Dr. Sadat Hossain, Former Cabinet Secretary : Activities by mobile courts were vibrant in last Ramadan. They carried out drives in different businesses, including eateries, food manufacturers, dispensaries and even chemical godowns.
What caught the attention of many was the drives in the mango market when mango harvest was yet to start. After testing some samples, it was found that those were actually green and ripened using ethophen and carbide. The mangoes were not tasty as well. Most people think that ripening mangoes with chemical agents is harmful for health. However, the Bangladesh Safe Food Authority thinks something different. There is no doubt that the customers are being cheated.
Then the mobile courts started their crackdown on eateries and food-manufacturing factories that were filled with stinky, rotten and substandard food. Brands that are well known for selling quality food are the ones to blame. Promising quality food, they were charging exorbitant prices from customers. They produce food in unhealthy environment.
When asked, shopkeepers say they buy products from big suppliers, which seems to be a bit logical, but not completely. This is because they have to remain aware while purchasing products from a wholesaler as they are selling those at retail level. Super store owners cannot blame the source of products since they remain under their control. They can do bargaining over prices with the actual owner or producer of the products.
They have officials and staff. If chain stores buy meat at a fixed price, other traders will do the same—a matter that was proved during Ramadan. Chain stores and other traders started selling meat at higher prices two months before Ramadan. On this ground, some chain stores were fined. Afterwards, they started selling meat at lower prices which forced the local traders to sell at the price set by the city corporations. If the chain stores are monitored well, other traders cannot charge excessive prices. In sense of economic parameter, traders of Bangladesh are rational economic agent. They can understand criticism and appreciation. When they feel that they might have to face the music, they backtrack from unethical practices.