DHAKA, March 01, 2026 (BSS) - The Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) has launched a comprehensive surveillance and enforcement programme marking the ongoing holy month of Ramadan to combat food adulteration and ensure the quality of essential commodities.

Industries Secretary Md Obaidur Rahman said the initiative aims to protect consumers and guarantee access to safe food and accurate measurements during Ramadan.

At a press briefing at the Ministry of Industries today, he said BSTI has identified a list of high-priority items for heightened surveillance, including ghee and butter; soybean and mustard oils; sugar; dates; carbonated drinks and fruit juices; honey; puffed rice; noodles; and vermicelli.

He also mentioned that the operational strategy involves the deployment of intensified mobile courts and dedicated surveillance teams throughout Dhaka and via its regional offices.

"These operations are being conducted in close coordination with District and Upazila administrations to monitor the market at the retail level. The primary goal is to ensure fair weights and prevent the sale of adulterated or substandard food items, emphasizing the importance of business ethics during the holy month," he added.

Obaidur Rahman, however, reported on robust enforcement actions taken between July 2025 and January 2026, during which over Tk 3.58 crore in fines were realized to protect consumer interests and maintain market stability.

During the seven-month period from July 2025 to January 2026, he said, BSTI conducted widespread operations to uphold national standards. 

"During the seven-month, 1,537 mobile courts were conducted, resulting in 1,470 cases filed and the collection of Tk 3 crore 58 lakh 5 thousand in fines," he added.

The secretary provided detailed metrics regarding quality control across critical product categories, underscoring the technical rigor of the institution's laboratory testing.

He said that BSTI conducted 173 surveillance actions focused on iodized salt, collecting 414 samples for analysis.

"Of these, 391 samples were found to be satisfactory. Legal show-cause notices were issued to the manufacturers of the 23 samples found unsatisfactory," he added.

In the fortified edible oil sector, he informed that BSTI conducted 10 mobile courts and 162 surveillance actions. Out of 523 samples collected, he said, 440 were found to be compliant with standards. 

However, he mentioned that 4 samples failed quality tests due to incorrect levels of Vitamin 'A', and 79 samples are currently undergoing laboratory testing. 

These operations resulted in one factory being sealed and the collection of Tk 13.20 lakh in fines, he added.

He said that a significant crackdown on fake and substandard cosmetics resulted in 37 mobile courts and 38 filed cases. 

Realizing Tk 27 lakh in fines, he stated that BSTI officials seized and destroyed approximately Tk 3 crore worth of fake and substandard cosmetics on-site to prevent them from reaching consumers.

Obaidur Rahman reaffirmed BSTI's commitment to upholding international quality standards and ensuring consumer protection. 

He noted that out of 1,603 total samples managed during the reporting period (with 750 tests completed), 31 specific products were found to be substandard, leading to the issuance of formal legal notices and product withdrawal orders to the respective brands.

The secretary urged both consumers and traders to uphold business ethics and prioritize BSTI-approved products. 

He also encouraged the public to report product quality issues or fraudulent measurements via BSTI's hotline at 16119.