Appeal seeks retest by independant lab

An appeal was filed with the Supreme Court yesterday seeking its directives upon the government to test the wheat imported from Brazil at a neutral laboratory, which is beyond the government's control, after collecting its sample through a committee formed by the apex court.

Pabel Mia, a Dhaka Judges Court lawyer who earlier moved a writ petition before the High Court regarding the wheat issue, yesterday submitted the appeal to the SC.

In the petition, he also prayed to the SC to order the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to investigate whether there was any corruption in importing the wheat from Brazil and its release and distribution in the country.

Pabel's lawyer Shanjid Siddique told The Daily Star that the SC chamber judge may hear the appeal on July 21.

About the laboratories, he said there are such "neutral" laboratories in the country, including one working under the US embassy.

He said there was a dispute in earlier laboratory tests of the wheat, since the executive magistrates had collected the sample under the government's surveillance.

Shanjid also said as many as 22 test reports said that there are living insects in the wheat, but the directorate general of food said the wheat is fit for human consumption. 

Following the writ petition of Pabel, the HC on July 8 had directed the government to take back the wheat imported from Brazil from a department or organisation if they want to return the grain, considering it to be unfit for consumption.

The HC had also asked the government not to compel anyone to receive the imported wheat if he is unwilling to do so.

Following a government appeal, the SC on July 9 stayed the HC judgment till July 26.

Pabel in his appeal also challenged the HC directive.

Meanwhile, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) would decide its action regarding the wheat after investigations are carried out by the government bodies, said ACC Director General M Shamsul Arefin at its monthly press briefing at its office in the capital yesterday.