Industry adviser Adilur Rahman Khan said that the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institute had conducted drives against 15 online organisations based on various complaints of selling fake and illegal products.
He also said that the BSTI issued a letter to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission to halt the online sale, distribution, and supply of counterfeit and illegal products.
He also urged consumers to ensure BSTI approval before purchasing or placing orders online and to call BSTI鈥檚 hotline number (16119) if needed.
He spoke at a press conference organized by the Ministry of Industry and BSTI in Dhaka鈥簊 capital on Wednesday.
He also said that the BSTI has started issuing QR codes and that consumers can ensure the product have a valid BSTI license, certificates, and test reports to avoid counterfeit and substandard products.
Regarding preparation for the upcoming Ramadan, the Industry Adviser said that the BSTI will operate three mobile courts across the capital during Ramadan to prevent food adulteration.
He also said that the BSTI regularly conducts drives throughout the year to control the quality of products.
The three mobile courts will be operated daily, including holidays, under the leadership of BSTI鈥簊 executive magistrate.
He also said that law enforcement members like Dhaka Metropolitan Police, Rapid Action Battalion, and APBn will assist the BSTI in these drives.
Another special drive will also be conducted across the capital during the holy month of Ramadan, he said.
He added that multiple mobile courts will also be operated daily from BSTI鈥簊 district, divisional, and regional offices with the help of the administration at the district and upazila levels.
鈥楾he Ramadan is scheduled to begin on March 1 or 2. However, BSTI鈥簊 surveillance activities have been strengthened one month in advance,鈥� he added.
He also said that the institution had been operating drives, especially focusing on Ramadan essentials, including fruit drinks, syrup, muri, dates, soft drinks powder, carbonated beverages, edible oil, mustard oil, rice, noodles, email, and others.
鈥業n the cases of these foods, the possibility of adulteration is high, and they are operating special monitoring on such products and aim to continue these drives along with the assistance of other organisations such as Bangladesh Food Safety Authority and the Directorate of National Consumers鈥� Right Protection.
Currently, the number of live bakeries in the capital has grown significantly. The adviser said that they will ensure a special focus on live bakeries.聽聽
He added that from October 2024 to January 2025, BSTI operated 471 mobile courts, filed 428 cases, fined Tk聽2.47 crore, and conducted 1091 surveillance.
Moreover, the state-run organisation collected samples of 737 Ramadan essentials and tested them in its lab.
Among them, they completed testing of 559 tests and found 512 samples as standard and 43 as below standard or quality, most of which were ghee. The rest of the samples are being tested.
Responding to a question, BSTI director general SM Ferdous Alam said that the products produced and sold in Dhaka are comparatively safer than those produced and sold at the peripheral or district levels. For this reason, they initiated more focus on the capital city areas.
Industries Secretary Md Obaidur Rahman moderated the event.