Mobile courts fined two food manufacturing establishments a total of Tk 400,000 in separate drives in Bogura and Pabna for producing food in unhygienic conditions and violating the Safe Food Act, 2013.

In Bogura, a mobile court fined Belal Foods, a bakery factory in Atta Para of Bogura Sadar, Tk 100,000 during an inspection conducted on July 22.

The drive, led by Executive Magistrate Faisal Ahmad of the Bogura District Administration, found the factory producing bakery items in an extremely unhygienic environment.

Officials also found that expired and returned biscuits and bread were being blended and reused in the production of bakery products. The establishment was operating without registration, producing bakery items without obtaining the required BSTI certification, and workers were not maintaining proper hygiene and sanitation, according to officials.

Based on the owner's admission of the offences, the mobile court imposed and realised a fine of Tk 100,000 under Section 39 of the Safe Food Act, 2013.

Safe Food Officer Md Russell and other officials of the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) took part in the operation, while a team from the district police provided security.

Meanwhile, in Pabna, a mobile court fined Akif Anas Dairy, located in Faridpur upazila, Tk 300,000 following a monitoring operation at its milk processing factory on July 22.

During the inspection, officials recovered unhygienic jelly, detergent and several unlabelled chemical substances from the factory. The proprietor admitted during questioning that the recovered jelly had been used in milk production, officials said.

With the assistance of the upazila administration, a mobile court was subsequently conducted under the Safe Food Act, 2013.

The court, led by Faridpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Umme Imama Banin, imposed a fine of Tk 300,000 on the establishment. The factory authorities also signed a written undertaking pledging not to engage in such unlawful activities in the future.

The monitoring operation was attended by BFSA Safe Food Officer Shamim Ahmed and acting Safe Food Inspector Abdus Sabur.

The Bangladesh Food Safety Authority said monitoring, sample collection and legal action against food safety violations would continue in the public interest to ensure safe food for consumers.