The High Court has ordered authorities concerned to withdraw and cut supply of 52 products from market, which were found to be substandard in a BSTI testing.

The bench of Justice Sheikh Hassan Arif and Justice Razik-al-Jalil passed the order on Sunday, after hearing a writ petition filed seeking withdrawal of the products.

The court asked Bangladesh Standard Testing Institution (BSTI), Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA), and Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP) to take immediate action regarding the matter and submit a report with May 23.

It also asked BSTI, BSFA, and DNCRP to ensure food safety and proper standard of the products existing in the market. The BSTI unveiled a report on the substandard products on May 2. The next day, several media outlets published the report.

Later, Conscious Consumer Society (CCS) filed a writ petition with the court, seeking withdrawal of the 52 substandard products.

Barrister Shihab Uddin Khan, who had filed the writ on behalf of CCS, told Dhaka Tribune "The court has ordered the officials concerned to take stern action immediately.

"According to the court’s directives, all the 52 products have to be withdrawn from the market and supply of these products also to be cut off right away."

The court further stated that unless necessary standards are met, these products will not be allowed to exist in the market. 

The 52 products include: Duncan Natural Drinking Water, ACI Coriander Powder, Danish Turmeric Powder, Pran Turmeric Powder, Pran Curry Powder, Madhuban Lassi Shemai, Baghabari Special Ghee, Mollah Iodine Salt, Rupchanda's Sesame Oil (Bangladesh Edible Oil), Well Food Lassi Shemai, Madina Iodine Salt, Dada Super Iodine Salt, Sun Food Turmeric Powder, Teer Sesame Oil, Pushti Sesame Oil, Fresh Turmeric Powder, Mithai Lassi Shemai, Mizan Drinking Water, and others.

Deshsangbad/fh/mmh