Five jailed for selling banned fish, adulteration in Karwan Bazar

A Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) mobile court has sentenced five people to different terms of jail for adding prohibited colours and gels to fish and selling banned fish.

RAB raided fish warehouses as well as various grocery shops in Karwan Bazar in Dhaka on Friday.

The operation started at 8:30am on Friday led by RAB Executive Magistrate Sarwoer Alam.

He said that raids are being conducted at Karwan Bazar as part of a continued campaign against adulteration of food products.

Fish traders apply forbidden colours and gels to brighten the colour of fish. During the operation, three types of fish including piranhas that are banned from sale, have been seized. Besides, five people have been sentenced to one to three months imprisonment, he added.

Fisheries Department officials were present during the operation.

Dhaka District Fisheries Officer Mohammad Mamunur Rashid said that three types of offences were committed. Firstly, Poya fish was found painted with the colour used in textiles, which is injurious to health, if consumed.

The other two offences include selling African catfish and piranha. It is strictly forbidden to produce, breed, cultivate, market, store and sell these fish, he said.

During the operation, 40kg piranha, two tons of African catfish and poya mixed with colour were seized.

During the operation, a house was demolished where African catfish was kept, he added.

Meanwhile, the RAB mobile court also raided three grocery shops in the Karwan Bazar area.

Sarwoer Alam said that they also raided Nur traders, Ahmed traders, and Komola Traders in Karwan Bazar. Komola Traders was found bringing products from different places and re-tagging them.

Komola traders bring various products after expiry. They place new date seals on top of the expired seal. Later, the products are sold again in their shop. Which is a heinous crime, the RAB executive magistrate said before adding that the business was fined by Tk26 lakh.