A businessman in Lakshmipur has been fined Tk 200,000 for selling counterfeit ghee and fake cosmetic products. In default of payment, he was sentenced to three months’ simple imprisonment.
The authorities also seized a large quantity of counterfeit ghee and cosmetics from the businessman’s warehouse and later destroyed the products.
The mobile court, led by Lakshmipur Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Kathoaiprue Marma, conducted the operation on Monday (September 7) at a warehouse of JBBL Enterprise in the Samsherabad area of Lakshmipur municipal town.
The joint operation was carried out based on information provided by the National Security Intelligence (NSI), with the participation of the mobile court, RAB-11 and the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority.
According to the mobile court authorities, businessman Raj Kumar had allegedly been involved in supplying counterfeit ghee and various fake cosmetic products to different shops. Acting on the intelligence, authorities raided his warehouse and found a large quantity of suspected counterfeit products.
The seized ghee and cosmetics were subsequently destroyed. The mobile court also imposed a Tk 200,000 fine on Raj Kumar and ordered three months of simple imprisonment if he failed to pay the fine.
Officials from the Food Safety Authority were also present during the operation, including District Food Safety Officer Sumadhu Chakraborty and Lakshmipur Municipality Food Safety Inspector Mohammad Abdullah Hil Hakim.
Lakshmipur Sadar UNO Kathoaiprue Marma said Raj Kumar had been supplying counterfeit ghee to various shops through his business. The authorities seized the fake ghee and cosmetic products during the raid and took legal action through the mobile court.
She added that such drives will continue in the public interest to prevent the sale of adulterated and counterfeit food and consumer products.
