Adulterated date molasses produced in Rajshahi

RAJSHAHI, Nov 21: The upazilas of Bagha, Puthia, Baghmara, Charghat and Durgapur in the district are well-known and famous for producing pure date molasses.
The date molasses produced here is sent to different areas including the capital city Dhaka. Meanwhile, the date molasses has started to appear in different markets of the city and its adjacent areas.
But nowadays most of the date molasses is not found in pure state. Some dishonest traders are using sugar for producing molasses for earning extra profit.
Local sources said farmers are using sugar for producing date molasses because the price of sugar is Tk 25 to 30 per kg which is less than per kg date molasses. Now the date molasses is being sold at Tk 90 to 95 per kg.
For this reason, the farmers are making date molasses mixing sugar with water and date juice. In this way, a dishonest farmer gets extra profit of Tk 20 and even more in one kilogram of date molasses.
Shariful Islam, a date molasses trader of Domamami Village under Puthia Upazila, said, "I have been using sugar for producing date molasses for the last three years. When the boiled date juice turns red, I use sugar and then I use hydrogen and other chemicals to get good colour of date molasses. As a result, the produced date molasses looks shiny and like pure date molasses. I can earn extra Tk 20 to 25 from per kg date molasses."
Abdul Haque of Maleker crossing area under Charghat Upazila said, "I am employed as a date molasses labourer at a house where I have been using sugar for producing date molasses for the last three years. At first, I did not know about mixing sugar but after knowing, I use sugar for producing date molasses."
Alam Hossain, a date molasses trader of Baneshwar Bazaar, said, "Most of the date molasses is adulterated. Though we know that the molasses is prepared with mixing sugar but there is no way. As the result, we are compelled to buy and sell this adulterate date molasses."
If the administration doesn't take necessary steps to control the production of adulterated date molasses, the situation will turn worse, he added.
Sabina Yasmin, Bagha upazila agriculture officer, said about Tk 10 crore is earned from the date molasses business here, but it is a matter of sorrow that some dishonest businessmen are mixing sugar in producing date molasses.
If sugar is mixed for producing date molasses, a poison is created which is very harmful for children's liver, she added.