HC asks govt to explain
The High Court yesterday asked the government to explain in four weeks why it should not be directed to take necessary steps for formulating a law named Formalin Control Act incorporating a provision of exemplary punishment for using formalin and other poisonous chemicals in food items. It issued the rule following a writ petition filed by a Supreme Court lawyer Eunus Ali Akond seeking HC directives on the government to place a bill named “Formalin Control Act” in the upcoming session of parliament scheduled to begin today.
In the rule, the HC also asked the authorities concerned to explain why they should not be directed to check up the shops of all foods stuffs, fishes and sweets, and factories producing clothes to prevent the use of formalin and other poisonous chemicals.The HC bench of Justice Salma Masud Chowdhury and Justice Zafar Ahmed directed the authorities to submit a report if any step is taken to make the law and against the use of poisonous chemicals in food items in two weeks before it.
Eunus filed the petition Sunday as a public interest litigation following several news items published in different dailies, including The Daily Star.
In the petition, he also said dishonest traders and businessmen use formalin, carbide, burnt mobil, sulfur dioxide and poisonous colour in the food items and other products, which cause liver and kidney diseases and other problems in health of human being, but they are not punished due to lack of specific law.
The petitioner also urged the court to order the government to take effective measure against those who use poisonous and life threatening chemicals in food items and other products.
-With The Daily Star input
