The Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) has withdrawn 49 food products commonly consumed during Iftar and Sehri after laboratory tests found them to be substandard, as part of an intensified nationwide crackdown ahead of Ramadan.
The move was announced on Sunday at a press briefing at the Ministry of Industries by Industries Secretary Md Obaidur Rahman, who said the products had been removed from the market and the respective manufacturers served with show-cause notices.
According to officials, BSTI tested 750 samples of food items widely consumed by fasting people. Of these, 701 samples were found compliant with quality standards, while 49 failed to meet required benchmarks and were declared adulterated or substandard.
One factory was sealed for producing and marketing low-quality edible oil. In addition, several companies were fined a combined Tk 1.32 million during recent drives.
The Secretary said that food items with high Ramadan demand - including fruit drinks, fruit syrups, puffed rice (muri), dates, powdered soft drinks, pasteurised milk, edible oil, ghee, noodles and semai - have been placed under special surveillance to protect consumers during the holy month.
Over the past seven months, authorities have sealed 103 factories and petrol pumps for marketing adulterated food and low-quality petroleum products. During this period, 1,470 mobile courts conducted operations nationwide, collecting fines amounting to Tk 3.58 million.
To tighten enforcement during Ramadan, BSTI has expanded its field operations. Three mobile courts are now being conducted daily under the supervision of BSTI's executive magistrates in Dhaka and other districts. Divisional, regional and district offices are also carrying out regular drives in coordination with local administrations.
Joint enforcement operations are being planned with the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and the Dhaka Metropolitan Police to prevent adulteration, counterfeit branding and manipulation of weights and measures.
BSTI Director (Engineer) Md Saiful Islam told the press conference that counterfeit products bearing the names of well-known companies have been detected in the market. Fake goods labelled under brands such as PRAN and Unilever were found on sale, although the companies concerned have denied manufacturing those products.
The Industries Secretary warned that any substandard or counterfeit food items identified in the market would be destroyed, and punitive action would be taken against those involved. He added that the entire supply chain would be traced to identify those responsible for producing and distributing fake goods.
However, officials did not disclose the names of the 49 companies whose products failed quality tests. The Secretary said further details would be available within 10 to 12 days after completion of administrative procedures.
Sources within the ministry acknowledged that while the list of substandard products is available, the names of the companies have not yet been made public. A senior official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the authorities are compiling detailed findings before releasing further information.
A visit to Chawkbazar and Moulvibazar in Old Dhaka - two of the capital's busiest wholesale markets during Ramadan - revealed that anti-adulteration drives are conducted regularly, particularly during the fasting month. Traders said enforcement activities tend to intensify each year at this time, though company names are rarely disclosed publicly.
