The High Court has requested the government and the prime minister to declare a war against the adulteration of food like that of anti-drug drive.
The court’s call came on Sunday (May 12) while hearing a petition seeking order to withdraw 52 food items from the market, which were identified as substandard by Bangladesh Standard Testing Institute (BSTI).
Authorities have been ordered to immediately remove from the food products as well as to stop production, selling or marketing of those and to take initiate legal measures against those responsible.
It also told Bangladesh Food Safety Authority and Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection to submit a report in 10 days.
Officials concerned of the government agencies should have patriotism and love for the people while discharging their duties so that substandard food products could not be supplied among the masses, the court observed.
There should not be any compromise and tolerance regarding food safety, the court said.
The drive against adulteration of food should not be limited in the month of Ramadan, rather it should continue throughout the year, said the bench of Justice Sheikh Hassan Arif and Justice Razik-Al Jalil.
Rights body Conscious Consumers Society (CCS), the petition on May 9, seeking necessary order on the government to seize or withdraw the substandard foods from the market from all over the country, as it did not get any reply to a legal notice served on the authorities concerned on May 6.
At a media call on May 3, the BSTI said it has18 substandard food products of 52 brands.
BSTI came up with the list of the products at after tests ahead of the Ramadan, which started from May 6.