Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) yesterday claimed that the campaign and statements being issued against the formalin measuring device “Formaldehyde Meter Z-300” was nothing but a conspiracy of a vested quarter.
“This kit has been bought two years ago and no one raised question at that time, but since DMP started big operation against formalin, this vested group has trying to foil it by spreading misleading information,” said DMP Commissioner Benazir Ahmed while addressing a press briefing on security arrangements during Ramadan, at DMP Media Centre in the capital.
Benazir further added that the DMP check posts and mobile court would continue their operation against formalin.
Claiming that police had been successful in decreasing the use of formalin through its continuous drives, he further pinned hopes that the government would implement a strict law regarding the use of formalin.
On the issue of checking formalin concentrations, Benazir said besides police check posts and mobile court, a principal decision has already been taken on setting up around 236 permanent booths in all kitchen markets of the capital to check use of formalin in foods.
“Students from different private and public college and universities would work in these booths during their free times, which would also give them an opportunity to earn,” he informed.
The police commissioner further urged businesspersons not to use chemical on foods that could harm the public.
Earlier On June 11, the DMP launched a drastic anti-formalin drive in the capital, armed with Formaldehyde Meter Z-300, and has so far seized and destroyed a huge amount of contaminated fruits after assessment.
However, the drive faced severe criticism from several experts from their field of chemistry and biochemistry who termed the device, Formaldehyde Meter Z-300, as a hand-held instrument to measure concentration of chemicals or gases in the air, not in food.
The experts also termed the anti-formalin drives as “unethical” using the device.