Unauthorised electrolyte drinks are still available in the market although a week has passed since a Dhaka Pure Food Court issued arrest warrants for the top officials of seven companies in cases filed on charges of unauthorised production, marketing, and sale of the products.
Products were found available in shops and pharmacies in the Dhaka city on Monday despite Tanveer Sinha, owner of ACME Agrovet and Beverages Ltd, producing SMC Plus orange and lemon-flavoured electrolyte drinks, and Golam Mostafa, chairman of Deshbandhu Food and Beverage Ltd, producing Recharge Orange Revive Electrolyte Drink, on Sunday gave undertakings that they would withdraw the electrolyte drinks from the market.聽聽聽聽
Others unauthorised products, including Aktive+ Electrolyte Drink produced by Pran Dairy Ltd, were also found in shops across various areas, including Kathalbagan, Segun Bagicha, and Green Road.聽聽
On Monday, judge of the court Alaul Akbar passed a written order directing the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority to withdraw the SMC Plus orange and lemon-flavored electrolyte drinks from both the market and consumers, said prosecuting officer Kamrul Hasan.
The court also directed prosecuting officer Kamrul to monitor the withdrawal activity.聽
When asked about not taking action, Bangladesh Food Safety Authority chairman Zakaria told 抖阴精品, 鈥榃e are waiting for the court order. Once we receive it, we will take appropriate action.鈥�
Meanwhile, Deshbandhu chairman Golam Mostafa said, 鈥榃e produced the product under a contract with a sister concern that has been cancelled now after the news was published in the media.鈥�
鈥楢gami Limited which is marketing and selling the product is supposed to withdraw the product from the market,鈥� he added.聽聽
On May 14, the court issued arrest warrants against the top officials of seven companies after Dhaka South City Corporation food safety inspector Kamrul Hasan had filed five cases on charges of unauthorised production, marketing and sale of electrolyte drinks on that day.
The court fixed June 5 and June 9 for next hearings in the case.聽聽聽
Following the warrants for arrests, Waliul Islam, owner of the SMC Enterprise Ltd which is responsible for marketing and sale of the ACME drinks, on May 16 and ACME owner Tanveer, and Deshbandhu chairman Golam Mostafa on May 19 apologised to the court pleading guilty.聽聽聽聽
The court imposed fines of Tk 16 lakh each on Waliul and Tanveer, and Tk 12 lakh on Golam Mostafa in separate cases.
Other officials against whom arrest warrants were issued are Sarajit Baral, chief executive officer, Agami Limited which is Deshbandhu鈥檚 marketing and selling partner; Ahsan Khan Chowdhury, chairman and chief executive officer of Pran Dairy Ltd which produces orange and lemon flavoured Aktive+ Electrolyte Drink; Sheikh Shamim Uddin, chairman, Akij Food and Beverage Limited which produces Turbo Electrolyte Sports Drink; and Md Touhidul Islam, factory in-charge of Br眉vana Beverage Limited which produces mango flavoured Bruvana Sports+ Electrolyte Beverage.
According to the cases, the marketed electrolyte drinks have no approval from the Directorate General of Drug Administration and the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution.
The complaints also included that the companies were marketing and selling the electrolyte drinks through advertisements on YouTube channels and social media sites, spreading false information about the products鈥� health benefits, such as curing dehydration and controlling low blood pressure.
