A Dhaka court on Monday issued arrest warrants against the owners of five eateries in the capital as laboratory tests confirmed they were producing or selling adulterated and substandard food.
The Pure Food Court passed the orders after taking the cases into cognisance, with Special Metropolitan Magistrate Nusrat Sahara Bithi serving as Joint District and Sessions Judge.
According to case documents, the cases stem from inspection drives carried out by Dhaka South City Corporation in Paltan, Motijheel, and Sabujbagh on April 15, April 22, and April 28.
Inspectors collected samples during the drives, sealed them in the presence of managers, and sent them for laboratory testing before filing cases under the Safe Food Act 2013.
Tests on loose tomato sauce from Rizik Catering in Paltan found total soluble solids at 3.35 per cent against the required 25 per cent and acidity at 0.39 per cent versus 1.20 per cent, confirming it did not meet minimum standards. A case was filed against its owner Sheikh Jinnia Akter Nipu.
A borhani sample from Adi Nanna Biryani showed milk protein at 1.67 per cent against the required 2.7 per cent, while Shahi Borhani from Hanif Biryani recorded 1.71 per cent, both below acceptable levels. Cases were filed against their owners Sayed Sardar and Md Imtiaz Uddin Rahid.
A fermented milk product from Soroshe Ilish Restaurant contained 1.49 per cent milk protein, also falling short of the 2.7 per cent standard. A case was filed against its owner Hafizur Rahman Mallik.
In a separate drive in Sabujbagh, inspectors found China Park Chinese and Thai Restaurant using unidentified and potentially toxic colours in food preparation and seized liquid colouring on site. A case was filed against its owner Abdur Razzaq Hawlader.
Dhaka South City Corporation Prosecuting Officer and Food Inspector Kamrul Hasan led the drives and documented the violations with video evidence and written statements.
He said the establishments had been warned multiple times to comply with food safety standards but continued the practices, leading to legal action.
