The New Nation - Internet Edition

Chittagong Correspondent

The samples of the powder milk for which the research wing of Chittagong Customs refused to give clearance on public health ground, have been sent to BSTI and BCSIR for chemical analysis.

High officials of Chittagong Customs in presence of the joint force personeel and representatives of the

Bureau Varitas, pre-shipment inspection (PSI) company, physically examined the allegedly rotten-suspect powdered milk yesterday morning.

The Audit, Investigation and Research wing of the customs in the port city earlier on Friday blocked clearance of 450 tonnes of powdered milk on public health safety grounds.

The huge consignment was imported by Abul Khair Food Products (AKFP), a sister concern of Abul Khair Group. Several records of document frauds, tax evasion, contaminated food import and manipulations of other forms by the enterprises of this group made the customs people suspicious of the latest import of milk.

The inspection body reportedly did not find the information mandatory for import of food items nor did it find reasons of hiding the information if the quality of the milk was good.

"None of the milk packets had date of manufacturing and expiry or country of origin imprinted upon apart from scratch marks at the place of the information," Joint Commissioner of Customs Kazi Mustafizur Rahman told reporters.

Sources said that the samples would also undergo radiation tests in addition to the chemical analysis.

No timeframe has reportedly been earmarked for the examinations so far. It was, however, expected that the agencies concerned would put due attention in delivering the reports of the laboratory tests within earliest possible.

Customs big shots turned down possibility of releasing the consignment before convincing laboratory reports and radiation status. The consignment was reportedly imported targeting the consumption-hike mainly in the holy month of Ramadan.

Officials of the controversial pre-shipment inspection (PSI) company Bureau Varitas could not clarify the reason of missing information. It also failed justifying its roles as a body of authentication while giving clean report of findings (CRF) for the consignment.

Officials hinted that the PSI Company Bureau Varitas would have to face stern action this time if the quality of the milk is found unsatisfactory. Earlier, three other PSI companies had to face huge penalty or license cancellation for their misdeeds.

General Officer Commanding (GOC) in Chittagong cantonment, Joint force representative Captain Iftekhar, Bureau Varitas official Jabed Iqbal, Audit, Investigation and Research wing official Pravas Chandra Tarafdar and Joint Commissioner of customs Kazi Mustafizur Rahman ,among others, were present during the physical inspection.