The New Nation - Internet Edition

A national daily headlined in its front page on the eve of the Eid-ul-Azha that adulterated foods were once again flooding the markets. Adulterated cooking oil, vegetable oil, ghee, noodles and vermicelli extensively consumed by people either directly as food or for cooking dishes during this festival, were having a free sale in the markets. The report hinted that the reason for this was the reduction of operations of mobile courts which in the recent past had at least partly discouraged the production and sale of impure food items. The operation of the mobile courts last year indeed, were noted to have an effect on the production and catering of health hazarding foods. It was one of the few policies and actions of the immediate past elected government that had real appreciation among all classes of consumers. But the activities of the roving courts that led to such an outcome have remained largely suspended for quite some time. As a consequence, food adulteration that seemed about to be checked considerably, is noted to be on the rise again.

Doctors and others in the health sector frequently complain about the rising incidence of many diseases linked to consuming unsafe foods. The diseases are particularly harming the young and the old whose tolerance or immune systems are far weaker than adults. But the health threat for people of all ages generally is rising on this score. Therefore, the incumbent government needs to take a hard look at these issues. Full revival of the operation of the mobile courts seems urgent. Full resumption of the operation of the mobile courts can be only one part of the response. The mobile courts and their operations are not liked by the offenders. The penalties were, however, no more than small pinches on their sides that they could ignore. Giving up of their present mode of food production and settling for healthy and safe methods could mean a major reduction in their undue profits.

Thus, resumption of the drive needs to be backed by certain changes in the laws. The laws that the mobile courts applied are too weak to create any strong motivation among the adulterers to change their ways on a lasting basis. The fines are paltry amounts to them in contrast to the huge profits they make from their crimes. Only if the fines become truly heavy such as not in thousands but in millions of Taka, the burden of paying them is very likely to create the needed disincentive among them to rethink and mend their ways. Not only fines, other penalties need to be introduced. The current provisions of suffering only months in jail and that too to be avoided in lieu of paying fines, are found to be no real punishment to the offenders. If the laws are changed to provide more penalty including years of rigorous imprisonment for any sort of food adulteration activity, then they are likely to have more impacts.