Md. Abdullah Sheikh, Sirajganj

29 December Unhealthy food products made by local bakeries have flooded the markets of Ullapara Upazila. “Abdullah Bread and Biscuit Factory” located in Ghoshganti village of Ullapara Municipality is making bread, biscuits, singara and other food products in a dirty, damp and unhygienic environment. According to government rules, it is mandatory to check the health of factory employees, use gloves while preparing food and maintain cleanliness. However, Abdullah Bread and Biscuit Factory has been violating these rules for years. While making this product, when the dough is made, the sweat and dirt from the employees’ bodies are dripping down and mixing with the dough.

The sanitary inspectors of the districts, upazilas and municipalities are responsible for monitoring these activities, but no effective action has been taken. Recently, a journalist from the Daily Nowroz visited the Abdullah Bread and Biscuit Factory in Ghoshganti village of Ullapara Municipality. He saw that raw singara and samocha were being prepared next to cow dung and spoke to the factory owner, Md. Ainul Haque Akand, about this.

When asked about the unsanitary environment, the owner said, “All bakeries in Ullapara Upazila operate in conditions similar to mine. You can go to any bakery if you want to see it.”

District Sanitary Inspector (DSI) Md. Ali Newaz Chowdhury said, “Since this factory falls under the jurisdiction of the municipality, it is the responsibility of the sanitary inspector of Ullapara Municipality to monitor it.”