The ‘World Standards Day’ was observed in the country as elsewhere across the globe on Friday with the theme ‘Shared vision for a better world - Standards for SDGs’. The day is observed every year on October 14 in order to ensure products’ formulation standard and implementation of those standards.
Like in the past authorities concerned, law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders this year also expressed their firm determination to ensure quality and safe products and foods for all. But the fact is that contaminated and adulterated food items and other substandard products are still flooding the markets across the country.
The authorities concerned will
have to ensure production of
quality food and products
alongside curbing adulteration
Organised counterfeiting gangs in different places of the country including capital Dhaka are involved in manufacturing various food item, sophisticated products and even life saving copies of the country’s bestselling medicines. Besides, a section of unscrupulous traders, in their greed for windfall profit, uses various chemicals, including formalin, in fruits and fish to keep those fresh for long, which adversely affects human health. Although as member of International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) has been working in formulating and controlling standards in all aspects of production, sales and marketing of products in the country but it has failed to deter frauds, criminals and dishonest people yet.
Access to safe and quality food and other products is a right of consumers, but people are being deprived of their rights. Every year many people die having substandard and adulterated foods in our country due to lack of strict vigilance. It is very important to ensure the production of quality products to improve the quality of life of the people. The authorities concerned will have to ensure production of quality food and products alongside curbing adulteration and creating awareness among businesspeople against such offences in the country. The industrialists, sellers and consumers will also have to become aware of following and implementing international standards in all fields including business and trade in order to build a developed and prosperous Bangladesh by 2041. Apart from BSTI, other government and non-government organisations and people will have to join hands to ensure the quality of products and launch crackdown against the greedy traders.