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Abundance of adulterated edible oil |
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July 25, 2000
Dhaka (UNB) - An import restricted US-brand edible oil comes into the country as relief item for security personnel. But the vegetable oil is allegedly being adulterated and sold in city markets posing a serious threat to public health. Although its label reads "Not to be sold or exchanged", a section of unscrupulous traders in the city are openly selling it at a relatively low price. Capitalising on its US-brand name, the traders adulterate it with substandard oil in their clandestine dilution centres and supply it in the markets. "There are a lot of 'dilution centres' in city's wholesale markets like Moulvibazar and Kawranbazar where this item is adulterated," said a shopkeeper, who would not disclose his name. According to a senior police official, the USA-refined vegetable oil usually comes as relief item and is distributed among the members of police, army and BDR. "No company or organisation in the country has the permission to import or sell it. "I can't understand how this brand comes to the open market?" he wondered. When contacted Director General of Bangladesh Standard and Testing Institution Aziz Ahmed Chowdhury told the UNB correspondent that they have heard of it and directed their field officers to look into the matter. "Our field officers regularly visit markets and collect the samples of the alleged items, taste it to verify allegations of adulteration and then take effective steps against the offenders," he said adding, "the same thing will also be applicable for the US-brand oil." A visit by the UNB correspondent to a number city markets showed that the 4-litre tin of the USA-refined vegetable oil is selling at Tk 150-160, down by Tk 30-40 than other edible oils available in the markets. Prominent city markets like Kawranbazar and Moulvibazar have been swamped with the US vegetable oil. Some shopkeepers said their main source of the USA-refined vegetable oil is Rajarbagh Police Lines ration store, an allegation denied by the employees of the store. When asked why he sells the oil despite having a label on its tin reading "Not to be sold or exchanged", a shopkeeper at Kawranbazar said, "if the customers can buy it seeing its label why should we refrain from selling it? "There are concerned authorities to stop the illegal supply of the oil. If the supply could be stopped we will have little scope to sell it," said the shopkeeper, also insisting on anonymity. |