Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) has fined 10 food establishments a total of Tk 20 lakh and filed six cases over violations of the Food Safety Act, 2013, during enforcement drives conducted across the country in the past week.
The actions were taken between September 20 and 26 in Dhaka and several other districts as part of the authority’s ongoing efforts to ensure food safety and protect public health.
In Dhaka metropolitan areas, BFSA conducted drives at six establishments during the period. Two establishments were fined a total of Tk 3 lakh, and two cases were filed for various violations.
The violations included operating without mandatory registration, preparing food in unhygienic conditions, storing unlabelled fish, meat, and other food items in refrigerators, and failing to produce trade licences, health certificates for food handlers, and evidence of pest-control measures.
Outside Dhaka, mobile courts were conducted at three establishments in Brahmanbaria, Narsingdi, and Sirajganj.
The establishments were fined a total of Tk 4 lakh, and three cases were filed for offenses including the use of used cooking oil and unauthorized chemical colors, the presence of cockroaches and bedbugs at production sites, failure to provide product labels, and producing food in dirty and unhygienic conditions.
Separate summary trials were also conducted in Lakshmipur and Kishoreganj during the period.
In Lakshmipur, two establishments were fined a total of Tk 3 lakh following a drive led by a senior judicial magistrate in the presence of a food safety officer. Various irregularities were detected in the preparation, storage, and handling of food.
In Kishoreganj, three food-producing establishments were fined a total of Tk 10 lakh for producing and storing food in unhygienic conditions and providing misleading information on product packaging.
Authorities also inspected a number of other food establishments and issued instructions for necessary corrective measures.
Monitoring intensified
Alongside enforcement drives, the BFSA has intensified monitoring of food establishments across the country.
During the week, a total of 288 establishments—including markets, hotels and restaurants, bakeries, sweet shops, and food production and processing facilities—were monitored.
The monitoring focused on compliance with food safety requirements related to food production, storage, processing, serving, and marketing. Necessary instructions and legal measures were taken against establishments where violations were detected, according to the authority.
Awareness campaigns continue
The BFSA has also continued its public awareness campaigns on food safety through television, radio, and social media.
During the period, food-safety awareness TV commercials and scroll messages were broadcast on Bangladesh Television, while Bangladesh Betar aired audio messages on various food safety issues.
The authority also continued disseminating awareness messages through photographs, reels, and videos on social media platforms, focusing on safe food consumption, hygienic food production and marketing, and consumers’ responsibilities.
BFSA Chairman Md Shafiqul Islam said the authority was carrying out a range of activities to ensure safe and quality food for the public.
“Regular monitoring of food businesses, legal action, mobile courts, food sample testing, and research are being carried out alongside efforts to raise public awareness,” he said.
He said the authority was also placing emphasis on ensuring accountability among all stakeholders involved in the food supply chain, from production to reaching consumers.
“The activities to ensure food safety will be made more dynamic and expanded further,” he added.
