The New Nation - Internet Edition

Chittagong Correspondent

Chittagong Customs House (CCH) is likely to confiscate the total consignment of suspected rotten powder milk imported by Abul Khair Food Products, an enterprise of Abul Khair Group.

"We don't know what ultimately will happen to the powder milk, but the CCH will go by the law," a customs official said.

Local sources said an unholy nexus among the exporter, importer and the pre-shipment inspection (PSI) company is responsible for the import of 450 tonnes of what is alleged rotten powder milk.

"Why the importer is so crazy to clear the consignment shouldering blames of manipulations when the mistakes are al legedly done by the exporter," a shipping circle stalwart commented.

Earlier, the files and relevant records of the consignment have been sent to Commissioner (Import) of the customs house Mohammad Shah Alam Khan for adjudication as the importer admitted its guilt and sought summary trial of the manipulations done.

On the other hand, the local office of the Bureau Varitas, controversial pre-shipment inspection (PSI) company, admitted receipt of the show cause notice. An official of the company claimed that the response of the show cause notice would soon be submitted.

Sources at the CCH said that laboratory reports of the suspected powder milk has not yet come from the agencies concerned - Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC), Bangladesh Standard and Testing Institute (BSTI) and Bangladesh Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR).

Meanwhile, the importer has already initiated legal process to appeal against the decision of the Commissioner of Customs at the High Court.