Adulterated date molasses flood Rajshahi markets

RAJSHAHI, Dec 31: Bagha, Puthia, Baghmara, Charghat and Durgapur upazilas of the district are famous for producing pure date molasses. The molasses produced here are sent to different areas including capital Dhaka.
But nowadays, the date molasses are not found in pure state. Some dishonest traders are using sugar for producing molasses for earning some extra profit.
Concerned sources said farmers are using sugar for producing date molasses because the price of sugar is Tk 60 to 65 per kg, but the date molasses are being sold at Tk 90 to 95 per kg. So, 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.
Talking to The daily Observer, Azam Ali of Mekkarpur Village under Charghat Upazila said, "If a farmer produces pure date molasses collecting date juice, it would be very hard for him to earn some profit. The price of firewood is very high in the market. So, most of the farmers here started producing adulterated date molasses mixing sugar, hydrose and alum."  
Liakat Ali, a date molasses businessman of Domamami Village under Puthia Upazila, said, "I have been using sugar for producing date molasses for the last two years. When the boiled date juice turns red, then I use sugar to the date juice and then I use hydrose and alum for good colour of date molasses. As a result, the prepared date molasses looks shiny and like pure date molasses. I can earn extra Tk 20 to 25 from per kg date molasses. Not only me, but other farmers of the area are using sugar for producing date molasses."
Abdul Haque of Maleker crossing area under Charghat Upazila, said, "I was employed as a date molasses worker in an influential man's house. I have been using sugar for producing date molasses for the last three years. At first, I didn't know about mixing sugar but later I started to mix sugar for producing date molasses. I use sugar for producing date molasses to earn extra profit."
Alam Hossain, a date molasses trader of Baneshwar Bazaar, said, "Most of the date molasses are adulterated now. Though we know that the molasses are prepared mixing sugar but there is no way. As a result, we are compelled to sell this adulterated molasses."
If the administration doesn't take necessary steps to control the production of adulterated date molasses, it would be impossible to check its production, he added.
Ranjit Kumar Shaha, civil surgeon of Rajshahi, said, "If sugar is mixed for producing date molasses, the product turns into a poison which is very harmful for child liver. It might create liver cancer and different bowl diseases."
People, however, demanded that the administration should take necessary steps to control the production of adulterated date molasses as soon as possible.