With the aim of protecting public health and ensuring food safety, the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) has been conducting various activities across the country on a regular basis. During the past week (9–15 August), the authority conducted mobile courts, monitoring activities at markets and food establishments, and public awareness campaigns through television and radio.
As part of the proper implementation of the Food Safety Act, 2013, necessary legal action was taken against establishments violating the law through mobile court operations in Dhaka and various districts and metropolitan areas.
During the past week (9–15 August), mobile courts conducted operations at a total of seven establishments in Dhaka Metropolitan City under the Food Safety Act. The operations resulted in fines totalling Tk4 lakh against three establishments and the filing of three cases.
In addition to Dhaka Metropolitan City, mobile court operations were also conducted in various districts. A total of four establishments in Brahmanbaria, Moulvibazar, Dhaka and Manikganj were brought under mobile court operations under the Food Safety Act, 2013. A total of Tk6 lakh in fines was imposed and four cases were filed during these operations.
Combining the operations in Dhaka Metropolitan City and the various districts, a total of seven establishments were fined Tk10 lakh under the Food Safety Act, and seven cases were filed.
Alongside mobile court operations, monitoring activities at food establishments are also continuing. Regular monitoring is being conducted at markets, hotels and restaurants, bakeries, sweet shops, and food production and processing facilities to strengthen oversight and ensure food safety. During the period mentioned above, a total of 130 food establishments across the country were monitored to ensure food safety.
In addition, a seminar titled “The Role of Local Stakeholders in Stopping the Sale of Open Edible Oil” was organised in Joypurhat on August 14 by the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority, with the support of the National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh. State Minister for Food Abdul Bari was the chief guest at the seminar. During the event, he also inspected the activities of the authority’s mobile laboratory van.
During the same period, messages on trans-fat were broadcast for 14 minutes on Bangladesh Television, while three different food safety messages were broadcast for 35 minutes on Bangladesh Betar to raise public awareness. Through these campaigns, the public is being informed about safe food consumption, hygienic food production and marketing, and consumer rights.
In addition, various food safety-related messages are being widely disseminated through photographs, reels and videos on social media. At the same time, various research activities are underway to collect information that will support the improvement of the food safety management system, risk assessment and policymaking.
Regarding the ongoing activities, BFSA Chairman Md Shafiqul Islam said, “Ensuring food safety is one of the government’s top priorities. To achieve this goal, the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority is working in an integrated manner through law enforcement, regular monitoring, mobile court operations, research, public awareness campaigns and the engagement of stakeholders. The collective efforts of the government, businesses, producers, consumers and all relevant stakeholders are crucial to ensuring food safety. In the future, the authority’s activities of this nature will continue to be expanded and made more effective in the public interest.”
