The High Court on Wednesday directed the government to ban import of foodstuffs treated with formalin and other poisonous chemicals.
Responding to a writ petition, the court also directed the government to provide testing kits to all the sea and land ports and markets across the country in a month to ensure that adulterated food items are not imported and sold.
The court also ordered the authorities concerned to submit a report by January 7 next year before it, after complying with the order.
It also issued a rule upon the government to explain why the import, distribution and sale of food items treated with formalin and other poisonous chemicals should not be declared illegal.
The HC bench of Justice Mirza Hussain Haider and Justice Kazi Md Ejarul Haque Akondo came up with the order and rule after hearing the writ petition filed by M Helal Uddin, a director of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), on November 19.
Helal filed the petition seeking High Court directive on the government to stop the import, distribution and sale of all foodstuffs treated with formalin and other poisonous chemicals in the country.
Source: The Daily Star
