PM seeks stern action against food adulteration

Prime Minister (PM) Tarique Rahman on Monday sought stronger action against food adulteration, directing the formation of a three-member high-level committee to identify the challenges facing the relevant agencies and recommend measures to make them more effective, reports UNB.
He gave the directive at a meeting at his office in the Secretariat with officials involved in food safety, product quality control, anti-adulteration drives and mobile courts. The committee will be comprised of PM's Public Administration Adviser Ismail Zabiullah, State Minister for Public Administration Abdul Bari, and Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani.
During the meeting, officials from the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection, the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA), the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) and the city corporations highlighted a number of challenges they face in carrying out anti-adulteration drives.
The officials sought more manpower at the district level, better laboratory facilities, modern equipment for field operations and greater powers for mobile courts. They also said they often face security risks while taking action against influential people and organised syndicates involved in food adulteration and other irregularities.
The PM assured them that the government will take steps to address the problems.
Meanwhile, Tarique Rahman on Monday directed the authorities concerned to take necessary steps to protect the environment of Gulshan-Banani-Baridhara Lake, prevent water pollution and ensure integrated waste management.
He gave the directive at a meeting held at the PM's Office in the Secretariat to review the sewerage connections of buildings in Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara and Niketan areas and the overall plan to make the lake pollution-free.
The PM stressed the need for coordinated efforts by the relevant ministries, city corporations and other agencies to ensure proper waste management in the surrounding buildings, control water pollution and protect the environment.
Officials informed the meeting that short-, medium- and long-term plans have been prepared to address the problem.
The meeting also discussed the importance of setting up sewage treatment plants (STPs) to protect the environment of Gulshan-Banani-Baridhara-Niketan area. It also reviewed measures to regularly clean the lake and its connected canals and remove waste.
The participants also discussed possible measures to prevent waste from the Korail slum from being discharged directly into the lake.