Abu Sazzad :Adulterated vermicelli has captured vermicelli market ahead of holy Eid-ul-Fitr which is just three days away.Sub-standard vermicelli like Sada Semai, Lachchha Semai and Ghiye Bhaza Semai are being prepared in so-called vermicelli factories just behind the bakeries and the confectioneries across the country.Some businessmen produce vermicelli without following formulas set by the Bangladesh Standard Testing Institution (BSTI)with a view to earning more profit. Actually, dishonest businessmen have set up manually operated machines in different parts of the country to produce sub-standard vermicelli and to market them in colourful packets ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, posing serious health hazards to consumers. Sources said, adulterated production goes on secretly keeping main entrance of factories under lock and key so that nobody could enter there. Workers are processing raw materials with their legs without any safety measures. Some factories stock vermicelli in dirty location. Besides, vermicelli is dried up under the open sky, where different types of birds and animals especially crows, dogs, cats and chickens are available. Although the BSTI launches drives against the adulterated vermicelli and fine the fake factory owners and workers, preparation of adulterated product continues.BSTI Director General Iqramul Haque said, a very few brands of only oil-fried vermicelli have BSTI certification. He said, their mobile courts regularly bust factories of sub-standard vermicelli but it is not possible for the mobile courts to reach everywhere to check sub-standard production of vermicelli. “It is extremely surprising that dishonest businessmen use BSTI seal to cheat people through supplying low quality of vermicelli and in most cases the dishonest businessmen use fake BSTI stickers on the packets of sub-standard vermicelli to exploit the customers. To check the production of the sub-standard vermicelli, people must be aware first about the harmful impact”, he said.
