DHAKA: Ever vigilant eyes of Banglanews are in search of the death trap of slow poison formalin. Where there is not the trap? 

A dishonest syndicate is spreading the slow poison door to door by importing from abroad. Endless grid for money and illegal profit are at the root cause of this unethical trade.

Ever vigilant Banglanews men carried on wide spread investigations  every where- sea ports, border areas, mango-jack fruit orchards, big markets of the capital city, fruit-fish markets, testing houses, post mortem rooms and ice factories to find out the persons behind this mischief.

Banglanews got the results of the investigations and how this cheap chemical spreads everywhere.

The investigative search operation directly supervised by Editor-in-Chief Alamgir Hossain while Head of News Mahmood Menon, Special Correspondents Ishtiaq Husain, Rahman Masud, Ramen Das Gupta, Chief of Correspondents Sayeed Arman, Senior Correspondent Md. Mohiuddin, Staff Correspondent Mafijul Sadiq, Sayeed Shipon, Adnan Rahman, Nurul Amin, Abdullah Al Mamun Khan, Deputy Chief of Photo Correspondent Kashem Haroon, Photo Correspondent GM Mujibur Rahman and Jahidur Rahman were in the field.

These news men prepared at least one and half a dozen reports depicting the dangerous picture of the spread of formalin countrywide. Six of those reports are being published today.  

Formalin producing inside country!

The clever business men have adopted new techniques after the government imposed new conditions! The new chemical known as medicine para formaldehyde same as formalin are imported now. 

This medicine looks as white granules are converted into formalin by heat and water. Taking the opportunity the importers have increased the quantity of para formaldehyde imports.

This information has been revealed in the investigations of Banglanews.

After investigation it was found that formalin is  imported from abroad for use in the textile factories, particle board, truck automobile manufacturing and in testing houses. 

But a vested quarter of dishonest traders are using this poisonous chemical to prevent decomposition of food products. Initially it was used in limited cases. But from 2011-2012 this poison has spread widely.

Formalin, carbide, spray machines on tin-shed roof

BACK FROM KANSHAT: While entering the Kanshat market known as the ‘Mango capital’ on last Sunday, it was overheard from mobile talking that vigilance and arrest are going on everywhere so medicine is being used in secrecy not in the whole sale room.

It was not difficult to understand that the conversation on mobile was how to use the chemical and the permission to use the poisonous chemical.

Formalin enters inside country via unprotected border

BACK FROM BENAPOLE: To avoid the hassles of bringing formalin in legal way, traders imports it illegally.

Formalin comes to the country via the routes of several nearby villages of Benapole land port as the smugglers manage to negotiate with the Border Guard Bangladesh and the Indian Border Security Force personnel.

As a result, tons of formalin is entering into the country via these routes regularly.

Then, these formalin are being dispatched to capital Dhaka, Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj and other fruit growing areas of the country’s northern part.

A bottle of formalin ripens 1,000 jack fruits!

BHALUKA (MYMENSHING): Raids are going on across the country against formalin particularly on mangoes and litchis. But now jack fruit, the national fruit of Bangladesh, is not even spared from this poison.

Widespread usage of this chemical were seen in the seed store market of Bhaluka, known as the capital of famous place for jack fruit.

Poisonous chemical White Ripen-15, produced by Chinese   Sinochem Argo Company Limited, is used to ripen the unripe   jack fruit. 

Some horrible scenes of formalin spraying were seen at the Seed Store market in presence of the producers, wholesalers and retailers.

Formalin import under control, Port Chairman claims

CHITTAGONG: Formalin is used in research centers, laboratories and pharmaceutical companies through importing in legal ways.

Though the government is giving permissions to import for the interest of people, it is passing to the food traders in different ways.

These traders are using formalin on various food items, fishes and other dietary products, endangering the public health.

A section of businesspeople are importing formalin more than their actual necessity and the excess amount is being sold in the markets.

Health experts opine that this formalin-mixed food items are a threat to public health.

Demands are galore to the government to enact laws against formalin. Government also has become conscious on the matter and measures have already been taken to stop the illegal usages of formalin. 

Government is seriously considering the matter as how the use of formalin in food products and the excess import of formalin can be stopped. 

Formalin found in Meena Bazar’s Khorma

DHAKA: A very renowned research institute of the country detected a terrifying level of formalin in the date fruits and ‘Khorma’ of Meena Bazar.

Reliable sources said, Meena Bazar authorities, on June 22, sent fruits samples including that of ‘Khorma’ (date fruit) to the institute’s laboratory for formalin tests.

Excessive level of formalin was found in ‘Khorma’ upon completion of the tests on June 25.

BDST: 1625 HRS JUN 29, 2014