Rangpur:A business establishment named "Messer's Md Danis Mia" in the Dakhiganj area of Rangpur has been fined Taka two lakh for producing, selling, and distributing food products without the necessary approval from the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI).
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the operation was a joint effort conducted by the Rangpur district administration, the divisional office of BSTI, and the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA). The mobile court was led by Assistant Commissioner and Executive Magistrate Md Kazi Shahan from the Office of the Deputy Commissioner of Rangpur.
The court imposed a fine of Taka 50,000 on the business under Sections 15(1) and 27 of the BSTI Act, 2018, for selling and distributing products such as chips, pickles, and lozenges without BSTI approval. Additionally, a fine of Taka 1,00,000 was levied under Section 39 of the Food Safety Act, 2013, due to the absence of proper labels, packaging, and production and expiry dates on the products.
Moreover, the establishment was fined an extra Taka 50,000 under Section 52 of the Consumer Rights Act, 2009, for manufacturing 'Shon papri,' a traditional sweet, in unhygienic conditions. Marufa Begum, Field Officer (Certification Marks) at the BSTI Rangpur Divisional Office, and Lokman Hossain, Inspector at the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority in Rangpur, served as the prosecutors in this case.
In the interest of public safety, BSTI Rangpur has affirmed its commitment to continue such enforcement operations.