There is concern that since there are several laws against adulteration, determining punishment lacks coordination. The different bodies which carry out anti-adulteration drives say that instead of adhering to one specific law, they like to carry on the work as per the laws of their respective organisations.
On the other hand, the demand to have a new law with the provision of death sentence for dishonest business is an old one. Law minister has said that there is the provision for death sentence for this offence in the special powers act 1974.
But specialists feel that a coordinated law is needed. The existing laws are: Consumer Rights Law-2009, Safe Food Law-2013, Formalin Control Law-2015 and Special Powers Act – 1974.
Under these laws, there is the provision to carry out mobile courts. As per the Special Powers Act clause 25/C, there is the provision for death sentence or 14 years in prison.
The Safe Food Act 2013 has a punishment of 5 years with Tk 2 million fine. For offences like not displaying price list, overcharging, selling of adulterated medicine and food, false advertisement, cheating in weight and others, the punishment is Tk 200,000 fine or three years imprisonment.
Assistant Director of the Directorate of Consumer Rights Protection, Bangladesh, Masum Arefin, said: “The main aim should be to implement existing laws.”
Law minister, Anisul Huq, has said: “The Special Powers Act, 1974’s clause 25/C mentions death sentence as punishment for selling adulterated items; so, we cannot say why there is the call for a new law with death sentence as punishment.”
The minister said that the laws formulated by Bangabandhu are relevant today.
Executive Director of Ain O Salish Kendra, Nur Khan, observed: “Too many laws on one issue results in lack of coordination; to avoid complexity, a new law can be formulated which will state unequivocally the highest punishment.”