Rajshahi: Two factories in Katakhali, Rajshahi, were fined a total of Tk 15,000 for producing lachcha semai without obtaining the necessary license from the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI). A mobile court conducted the operation on Sunday around noon in the Paba upazila, spearheaded by the BSTI’s divisional office in Rajshahi.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the mobile court penalized Messrs Alif Traders Tk 10,000 for the unsanitary production, sale, and distribution of lachcha semai without BSTI’s quality certification. The factory, located in the Samsadipur area of Katakhali Municipality, was also caught illegally using the BSTI standard mark on its packaging.
Similarly, Messrs Sumi Food Products, also based in the Samsadipur area, faced a fine of Tk 5,000 for similar violations, including operating in unhygienic conditions and lacking BSTI certification.
The mobile court’s operation was led by Executive Magistrate Md. Shahriar Islam Nasif from the Rajshahi District Administration. Engineer Junaid Ahmed, from the BSTI Divisional Office’s Certification Marks Wing in Rajshahi, acted as the prosecutor. Members of the Rajshahi Metropolitan Police were present to ensure the smooth execution of the drive.
BSTI Rajshahi emphasized that these operations will continue regularly to combat food adulteration and maintain the quality of food products available to the public.