Stern action to be taken against anyone found mixing urea with sugar: Barua

By AKM Moinuddin

Dhaka, Oct 3 (UNB) – The government will take stern action under the existing laws against anyone found mixing urea with sugar, Industries Minister Dilip Barua told Parliament Sunday.
“BSTI has been instructed to collect sample of both packed and unpacked sugar of a number of brands from the open market to carry out test in the laboratories to identify whether any chemical has been mixed with sugar,” he said replying to a question of Hossain Mokbul Shahriar (Jatiya Party-Rangpur).
The Industries Minister said no such case of adulteration has been detected so far. “But the government is considering the matter with due importance,” he said and thanked the lawmaker for raising such an important question.
He also informed the House that Bangladesh Sugar and Food Industries Corporation (BSFIC) is investigating the allegation of mixing urea with sugar.
“Even if any organization of BSFIC’s marketing network is found involved, action will be taken against them as well,” Barua said.
Replying to a question of ABM Abul Kasem (AL-Chittagong), he said most of the works for Chittagong Chemical Complex to resume its operation have been completed.
The Industries Minister said that there is no sick industry under the Ministry of Industries.
Replying to a question of Sukumar Ranjan Ghosh, he said the government formed a high-level committee to make the Chittagong Chemical Complex re-operational.
“We’ve also taken steps to modernize the losing sugar mills,” Barua said.
He said the Industries Ministry has taken an initiative to make a list of sick industries in the private sector.
END/UNB/AKM/