Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry on Saturday urged the government to restrict the import and distribution of formalin in the country by allowing only the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh to engage in its import and distribution.
The demand was raised at a programme at Banani kitchen market, organised by the FBCCI to declare it formalin-free from Saturday.
Banani kitchen market has become the 10th market to be declared formalin-free under an initiative of the FBCCI to curb the use of formalin in perishable agro-products, which poses serious health risks to citizens.
Addressing the occassion, FBCCI vice-president Helal Uddin said although the annual demand for formalin in the country’s industrial sector was estimated at only 40 tonnes, the official figures show that the actual import of formalin stood at 750 tonnes in the fiscal year 2010-11.
He said the government should give TCB the sole responsibility to stop its illegal use in preserving agro-products.
The programme was also addressed by communications minister Obaidul Quader, FBCCI president Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed and Prime Bank Ltd managing director Ahmed Kamal Khan Chowdhury. (source)