Nationwide drive under Safe Food Act: 1 crore taka fine, 50 cases in August

Nationwide drive under Safe Food Act: 1 crore taka fine, 50 cases in August
Dhaka, 7 September 2026, Monday A total of 1 crore taka fines were imposed by the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority under the Safe Food Act in August. Of these, 1 million taka fines were imposed and 10 cases were filed through 25 drives in the Dhaka metropolitan area; 4.8 million taka fines were imposed and 31 cases were filed through 29 drives in various districts across the country except Dhaka metropolitan; In addition, 5 establishments were fined 4.2 million taka and 9 cases were filed through summary trials conducted under the leadership of the Judge of the Pure Food Court and the learned Metropolitan Magistrate. In total, a total of 1 crore taka fines were imposed and 50 cases were filed through 59 drives in August 2026. At the same time, 1198 food establishments were monitored by the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority and health certificates were issued for 13 exportable products. Similarly, a total of 15 lakh taka fines were collected from 7 establishments and 7 cases were filed through a campaign conducted in the capital Dhaka and various districts of the country in a week from 30 August 2026 to 05 September 2026. During that period (30 August 2026 to 05 September 2026), a total of 5 establishments were raided in the Dhaka Metropolitan Area to implement the Safe Food Act, 2013. A total of 4 lakh taka fines were imposed on 3 establishments and 3 cases were filed due to crimes such as operating an establishment without registration in violation of mandatory registration, producing counterfeit products, selling rotten food, and failing to display trade license and BSTI. During those seven days, mobile courts were conducted in a total of 4 establishments in Chittagong, Sylhet and Lahmipur districts. According to the Safe Food Act, 2013, a total of 11 lakh taka fine has been collected and 4 cases have been filed against the four establishments for the following reasons: presence of cockroaches and bedbugs at the production site, use of unauthorized ghee, use of Keora water in Kabiriyani Theri, use of unauthorized paint, lack of labels on the products, production of food in a dirty and unhygienic environment, use of burnt oil, etc. In addition to enforcing the law, food establishment monitoring activities have also been strengthened across the country to ensure food safety. In the past week, monitoring was conducted at a total of 137 food establishments including markets, hotels-restaurants, bakeries, sweet shops, food production and processing establishments. Through the monitoring activities, the issue of following safe food rules in food production, storage, serving, processing and marketing is being monitored and instructions and legal measures are being taken to the concerned establishments as needed. In addition, the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority is conducting multi-faceted publicity activities to increase public awareness about safe food. Through these campaigns, people are being made aware of safe food consumption, healthy food production and marketing, and consumer actions. During this period, awareness TVCs, along with TVCs, scroll messages have also been broadcast on Bangladesh Television, and various audio messages on safe food have been broadcast on Bangladesh Betar. In addition, awareness messages on safe food are being regularly broadcast through various pictures, reels, and videos on social media.