Barlekha-Juri (Moulvibazar) Correspondent:
A meat seller named Sadek Ahmed (19) was caught red-handed by locals at Kathaltoli Bazaar in Barlekha Upazila, Moulvibazar, for mixing artificial coloring and freshly slaughtered cow blood with bloodless beef to sell it. Later, the mobile court fined the trader ten thousand taka.
The fine was imposed during a raid conducted on Tuesday (April 29) afternoon by the Upazila administration, with the assistance of the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection.
The operation was led by Upazila Executive Magistrate and Acting UNO (Upazila Nirbahi Officer) Mohammad Aslam Sarwar. The convicted meat trader, Sadek Ahmed, is the son of Rahim Uddin from Bahadurpur village in Beanibazar Upazila, Sylhet. He has been selling meat at Kathaltoli Bazaar for a long time.
According to local sources, buyers at the Dewan Shah Meat Shop in the market noticed an unusual color and smell. Suspicious, some locals interrogated the shopkeeper and eventually found evidence of adulteration. Immediately, the public apprehended the trader on the spot. Later, a mobile court fined him 10,000 taka and released him upon obtaining a written pledge. During the raid, the convicted meat trader Sadek Ahmed admitted to his crime and paid the fine.
Akhtar Hossain, a local businessman from Kathaltoli Bazaar, stated, “We became suspicious because of the unusual smell from the Dewan Shah Meat Shop. Upon investigation, we found that freshly slaughtered cow blood and artificial coloring were being mixed with bloodless beef for sale. Sensing this, we detained the trader. Later, the administration fined him during their operation. Meanwhile, the traders of Bhai Bhai Meat Shop quickly closed their shop and fled upon noticing the presence of the administration. It is suspected that adulterated meat was being sold there as well.”
Executive Magistrate and Acting UNO Mohammad Aslam Sarwar stated, “In Kathaltoli Bazaar of Barlekha Upazila, a meat trader named Sadek Ahmed was fined ten thousand taka under Section 41 of the Consumer Rights Protection Act, 2009, for selling adulterated beef mixed with artificial coloring and blood. Additionally, a written pledge was obtained from him.”
