The Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP) on Monday ordered to stop unauthorized sale of the holy Zamzam water in Dhaka for the time being.
DNCRP Director General AHM Shafiquzzaman announced the decision at a meeting on Monday morning.
The decision comes following the publication of special reports in Bangla Tribune and Dhaka Tribune that said Zamzam water was being sold in Dhaka at sky-high prices.
A special drive is underway to find the source of the water that is being sold in the capital. “In my opinion, Zamzam water is being sold illegally and it has been commercialized here (Dhaka). Now the market committee will decide what to do about it. They will let us know by next Wednesday,” said Shafiquzzaman at the meeting.
“Our intelligence team will be present at the market to monitor the selling. If anyone sells Zamzam water in violation of the ban, the establishment will be sealed,” he added.
Shafiquzzaman said the DNCRP will talk to the Islamic Foundation Bangladesh after talking to owners and businessmen.
Meanwhile, traders present at the meeting said they buy Zamzam water from Hajj pilgrims, depending entirely on faith.
Pilgrims bring water from Zamzam Well while returning home from Hajj or Umrah. Many bring extra water than required. Later they sell them to the traders in this market. Zamzam water has a high demand among the people.
According to Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH), the best water on the surface of the earth is that of Zamzam. Muslims wholeheartedly believe that if anyone wishes for something and drinks the Zamzam water, his/her wish will be fulfilled. Similarly, if it is drunk to get rid of disease then Almighty Allah will heal them for in it there is a cure for the ill.
On Sunday, a team of the DNCRP visited Baitul Mukarram national mosque market, in response to media reports on the Zamzam water business.
The officials talked with some sellers and, enquired about the source of the water bottles.
They also held meetings with the Islamic Foundation. Since the sellers could not give any satisfactory answer, the DNCRP officials asked the sellers to attend a views-exchange meeting at its office on Monday morning.
According to a Bangla Tribune investigation, some 250 traders sell the Zamzam water in Baitul Mukarram area at an exorbitant price.
A five-litre bottle is sold at around Tk3,500 while some sell 250ml bottles at Tk250. However, the Hajj pilgrims have to pay only Tk242 for five litres in Makkah. They usually bring the water for their families and relatives.
The shopkeepers said they pay the pilgrims and the Hajj agencies in advance to bring the Zamzam water.
There are some customs for drinking Zamzam water as per Hadith; for example, facing the Qibla, saying Bismillah, drinking in three gulps, and finally saying Alhamdulillah, etc. One of the important things to do while drinking Zamzam water is to pray to Allah.