FT ONLINE

Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) penalised 24 shops Taka 1.93 lakh in Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions in March this year for selling and manufacturing adulterated food items.

BSTI Rajshahi regional office mobile courts in association with local administration conducted drives in different parts of Rajshahi and Rangpur.

During the drives, the courts found that the shops were selling substandard food items, violating the rules and regulations.

The courts also realised Taka 1.93 lakh as fine from the shop owners.

BSTI Director (Rajshahi) Altab Hossain said the regional office conducted the drives against the shops involved in manufacturing substandard and adulterated food items.

The BSTI regional office also conducted 21 surveillance drives for prevention of pilferage in weight and measurement and formalin use in fruits and fish.

Two cases were filed during the drives and the cases were disposed of instantly through penalising Taka 14,000, the BSTI officials said.

Such drives will continue in the future, he added.