Sale of adulterated molasses is going on in Pabna. A section of dishonest traders are producing adulterated molasses by mixing harmful chemicals at various factories in the district.
The factories for making adulterated molasses have been set up in different areas of the district.
Although the business of this adulterated molasses continues throughout the year, sales have increased in the month of Ramadan. The fasting people are quenching their thirst with this adulterated molasses syrup in Iftar.
Three molasses traders have been arrested and fined after raiding an adulterated molasses factory in Chatmohar of Pabna.
Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Md Iktekharul Islam conducted the raid in Bahadurpur village and Amritkunda village of the upazila on Sunday afternoon. A large quantity of adulterated molasses and molasses-making equipment were seized during the operation.
According to the mobile court sources, Abdus Salam of Bahadurpur village had been making and marketing adulterated molasses for a long time. He was arrested after the factory raid based secret information.
At this time adulterated molasses and molasses-making materials were seized from there. Later, the mobile court sentenced Abdus Salam to a fine of Tk 30,000 and three months' imprisonment for non-payment for making adulterated molasses under the Consumer Rights Protection Act. He was later released with a fine.
Later, two molasses traders Syed Ali of Shahpur village and Anu Mandal of Baludia village were arrested while selling adulterated molasses at Amritkunda Hat in the upazila. Later, a fine of Tk 5,000 was collected from Syed Ali and Tk 10,000 from Anu Mandal.
During the operation, 100 tons of adulterated molasses, 10 kg of adulterated molasses, 5 bags of sugar (50 kg per bag), 1 kg of harmful dyes and 10 kg of lime were seized and destroyed.