Photo : BSS

GOPALGANJ, April 11, 2026 (BSS) - A mobile court conducted a raid on a 
factory producing adulterated Jaggery in Kotalipara upazila of the district 
on Saturday afternoon.

The operation took place in Kalabari area of the upazila, where authorities 
seized 15 maunds of substandard jaggery that was being manufactured with 
harmful ingredients.

The factory, owned by Chayan Sarkar, was found using low-quality and 
hazardous substances instead of traditional date or sugarcane juice to make 
Jaggery. The seized Jaggery was found to contain a dangerous mix of hydrose, 
soda, non-food grade industrial dyes, artificial flavors, spoiled sweet 
leftovers, and flour. 

Additionally, insects were discovered inside each of the production drums.

The raid was led by Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) and Executive Magistrate 
Sagufta Haque, who was accompanied by Tungipara Upazila Agricultural 
Marketing Officer Md. Zakir Hossain and members of the Bhangarhat Naval 
Investigation Center.

During the operation, the factory owner, Chayan Sarkar, was fined Taka 50,000 
under the Agricultural Marketing Act for violating food safety standards. The 
confiscated Jaggery was subsequently destroyed to prevent it from entering 
the market.

UNO Sagufta Haque emphasized the severity of the issue, stating, "Jaggery was 
being made here in an extremely unhygienic and unsanitary environment, posing 
a direct threat to public health.