M M Jasim :With the advent of Eid-ul-Fitr substandard and fake cosmetic products have flooded the country’s markets, including capital Dhaka, rendering millions of users vulnerable to different forms of skin and health diseases. “Substandard cosmetics contain strong acids and alkalis, which are very harmful for skin and hair. Use of these products may cause itching, hair loss, swelling, pigmentation and even skin cancer,” said Dr Ibrahim Motin, a dermatologist. Talking to The New Nation on Saturday Dr Motin said, “Some chemicals used in cosmetic products are harmful for health. Mostly, substandard and cheap cosmetic products contain these harmful chemicals that may cause severe skin diseases.”According to leaders of Consumers’ Association of Bangladesh (CAB), “Our country does not have any specific standards or production guidelines for majority of cosmetics. Unscrupulous producers are taking advantage of this ambiguity and producing a wide range of products that violates international standards.” Various stalls were seen selling fake cosmetic products like perfumes, moisturizer, nail polish, lotion, cold cream, face wash, cleanser, soap, powders, snows, lipsticks, lotions, shampoo, conditioner, bleach, hair dyes, oils, shaving creams and depilatories in different areas of Jinjira, Kushirbagh, Kalindi, Mandail, Bamonshur of Keraniganj area, Chalkbazar, Kamalbagh, Islambagh, Begumbazar, Rahmatganj, Debidas Ghat, Malitola, Lalbagh, Borokatra, Chotokatra and Kamrangirchar. The fake cosmetics are also available in New Market, Elephant Road, Rajdhani Market, Farmgate, Gulistan, Motijheel, Chandni Chawk, Shoppers World, Farm-view Super Market, Mohammadpur Super Market and some other markets in the city. The local traders buy these fake cosmetics from different markets of the city and sale those all over the country. Besides, labels of various reputed international and local brands such as Unilever, Square Toiletries, Kohinoor Chemical and Lalbagh Chemical are used on the packets or containers of the fake products to deceive the consumers, it was alleged.Raw materials for making such cosmetics are collected from shops in Mitford area while empty packets or containers of reputed branded products are used in packaging of fake beauty products.After production, these harmful cosmetics are supplied to the markets, deceiving many people to buy the products only to invite skin diseases and other complexities.The counterfeit products are mainly sold in Chalkbazar and Moulvibazar areas in the old part of Dhaka city.Maksud Hasan, a retailer, said, “We have to keep both genuine and fake cosmetics from the suppliers for selling those to different classes of customers.” “Profits from the sales of fake cosmetics are huge in Chalkbazar area and a portion of the amount is given to law enforcers for helping the manufacturers of fake products to run their illegal business,” said a cosmetics shop owner. “We have to keep items of both superior and lower qualities for the convenience of different classes of customers,” said Mahfuz, a retailer from Moghbazar areas when asked why he is knowingly selling low-quality products. “We do warn our customers that these may possibly be second-rate in quality but most buyers tend to prefer the cheap ones which are mostly substandard,” he said.According to the sources, most of the fake cosmetic products are stored in warehouses of different markets, including Chistia Market, Modina Market, Didar Market and some other markets located in old Dhaka.Bangladesh Standard and Testing Institute (BSTI) sources said fake cosmetics are being produced in Chakbazar area and supplied to retail shops across the country. The officials of BSTI claimed that they conduct drives to stop production and sale of fake cosmetics almost every day. “Cosmetic products have a huge market. It’s quite a big cottage industry in our country. You can find small factories even at people’s houses,” an official of BSTI told The New Nation wishing anonymity. “Taking actions against the actual manufactures is difficult as they do not leave any seals or imprints on their products, making it difficult for us to trace them. So we usually charge the retailers for selling substandard products,” he said.According to BSTI officials, the penalty for counterfeiting cosmetic products ranges from a fine between Tk 7,000 and Tk 1 lakh to imprisonment. BSTI monitors the production and distribution of around 142 products as cosmetics.Meanwhile, the cautious citizen in Dhaka expressed their dissatisfaction over the initiative of government as well as the BSTI to stop production and distribution of such substandard cosmetics. “Unfortunately, we do not see adequate measures of the authority concerned to stop this. Traders and manufacturers are arrested and products seized. But they soon come out on bail and go back to their murky business,” said Kamrul Hasan, a residence of Lalbagh area. He said that the government should take appropriate legal action against these dishonest businessmen and plug all the holes in its system to stamp this evil out of society.
