Set up food court in every district

HC asks govt
The High Court (HC) in a verdict yesterday directed the government to set up a food court in every district and to appoint sufficient food analysts and food inspectors in all districts within one year in order to prevent food adulteration.
The court also directed the government to inform the court by July 1, 2010, about its progress in complying with the directions.
It observed that necessary rules and regulations should be framed in order to ensure safety, purity and proper nutrition values of foods.
The HC bench comprised of Justice ABM Khairul Haque and Justice Mamtaz Uddin Ahmed came up with the verdict upon a writ petition filed by the Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB).
On January 14 this year, six Supreme Court lawyers filed the petition as public interest litigation (PIL) on behalf of the HRPB. The petitioners sought direction from the HC to constitute a National Food Safety Advisory Council as per provisions of the Pure Food Ordinance 1959 for obtaining appropriate advice and policies related to food safety and quality control.
The petitioners are Asaduzzaman Siddiqui, Sarwar Ahad Chowdhury, Tapan Kanti Das, Sheikh Atiar Rahman, Md Mamun Alim and Swapan Kumar Das.
On January 18, the HC following the writ petition issued a rule upon the government to explain why it should not be directed to constitute the National Food Safety Advisory Council.
The government then informed the court that Food Advisory Council has been formed in 2005 as per provisions of the Pure Food Ordinance 1959.
The petitioners then submitted a supplementary petition to the court so that it can direct the government for setting up food courts and appointing sufficient food analysts and food inspectors in all districts of the country.
Hearing on the rule was held yesterday.
The secretaries to the ministries of health, food and law, SC registrar and member secretary of the Food Advisory Council have been asked to comply with the HC verdict.
Advocate Manzill Murshid appeared for the petitioners while Additional Attorney General M Enayetur Rahim argued for the government.

Courtesy of The Daily Star