A mobile court has sentenced a factory owner named Abul Bashar and another individual to prison terms and fines for producing fake milk using toxic chemicals in Bhangura upazila of Pabna.
During the drive, 2,700 liters of jelly, 200 liters of soybean oil, and 320 liters of fake milk were seized and publicly destroyed, with an estimated market value of BDT 4 lakh.
The operation was conducted from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM on Friday at the residence of Abul Bashar in Koidanga Notunpara village under Sadar Union of the upazila.
The convicts are factory owner Abul Bashar, son of the late Abu Taleb of the same village, who was sentenced to one year of imprisonment and fined BDT 2 lakh, with an additional three months of imprisonment in default. The other convict, Sobuj, an employee and son of Habil from the same village, was sentenced to six months of imprisonment and fined BDT 50,000, with an additional one month of imprisonment in default.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) and Executive Magistrate Suraiya Momtaz led the operation. The National Intelligence Agency (NSI) and Bhangura Police Station assisted during the drive, while Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Nusrat Jahan was also present.
Read nextIslamic Scholars Hold Press Conference Demanding Cancellation of Proposed Fair in GozariaOfficer-in-Charge (OC) of Bhangura Police Station, Sakiul Azam, confirmed the information.
According to locals and relevant sources, Abul Bashar had long been producing fake milk at his home using various chemicals and harmful ingredients. He supplied this milk to various chilling centers, including Pran, BRAC, and Faruque Dairy in Bhangura, and amassed lakhs of taka in a short period. Acting on information from intelligence agencies, the upazila administration raided the location on Friday morning.
Reports indicate that Abul Bashar's illicit business was not limited to making fake milk alone; he also sold these toxic chemicals to other dishonest fake milk traders in the upazila. Earlier this month, the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection fined Abul Bashar BDT 1 lakh and temporarily sealed his factory over the same offense. Prior to that, the upazila administration had fined him three times in mobile courts for similar charges. However, just two days after the raids, the unscrupulous businessman would reopen his factory and continue his toxic trade. Moreover, accused Abul Bashar had previously broken the leg of journalist Manik Hossain for publishing news regarding his fake milk production.
Upazila Health Officer Dr. Halima Khanam Lima stated that long-term consumption of fake milk can cause cancer, physical deformities, developmental issues in children, and even death.
Executive Magistrate Suraiya Momtaz said that such operations in the public interest will continue.
— Daily Best News Desk • Fearless in the search for truth
Reported by Md. Manik Hossain, Bhangura (Pabna) Correspondent • Edited by the Daily Best News desk. Send corrections to [email protected].
