HC for panels to stop chemical use in fruits

The High Court on Monday directed the authorities concerned to constitute committees to monitor fruit markets and warehouses across the country so that chemicals are not used to ripen fruits, reports UNB.

Passing the order, the HC bench of justice FRM Nazmul Ahasan and justice KM Kamrul Kader sought a compliance report within 18 June.

The inspector general of police, director general and director (chemical testing wing) of Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) and director general of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) were asked to execute the order.

Lawyer Manzill Murshid stood for the petitioner while deputy attorney general ABM Al Bashar represented the state.

On 9 April, the court asked for deploying police in mango orchards in Rajshahi to prevent the use of chemicals in mangoes.

Besides, an inspection team had been ordered to monitor the fruit markets and warehouses across the country so that no one can use chemicals to ripen mangoes and the four respondents asked to carry out the order and file a report within 30 days.

The matter was brought in court's notice again as the authorities failed to submit the report within the deadline.

Manzill Murshid said the court issued a seven-point directive on 29 February, 2012 about mango orchards.

"But, we saw a tendency to use chemicals in mangoes in previous years. So, we've filed an application before the court urging it to issue the directives again," he said.