Errant restaurants in capital to face fines from today

Amid the growing concerns over unhygienic conditions in the capital's restaurants and the adulterated and low-quality yet highly priced food items they serve, the government is going to conduct drives in the restaurants from today.

The drives will be conducted in association with the health divisions of Dhaka south and north city corporations and Bangladesh Food Security Authority, Food Minister Qamrul Islam told the news agency.

According to Bangladesh Restaurants Owners' Association (BROA), there are some 5,000 restaurants in the capital while 2,000 of those are without trade licenses.

BROA President Khandaker Ruhul Amin said now there is no policy. "A policy…will be good for all if it accommodates the grading and food pricing systems."

Chief Health Officer of DSCC Brig Gen Saidur Rahman said a restaurant, according to the city corporation act, could be fined Tk 5,000 for preparing and selling substandard food items. "The penalty amount is poor," he noted.

Directorate General of Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection Abul Hossain Miah, however, said his organisation, since its inception in 2010, has already disposed of 1,028 allegations out of 1,140 complaints.

The restaurant owners are fined up to Tk 50,000 for selling food at an excessive price, whereas if any consumer falls sick after consumption, an owner has to pay up to Tk 2 lakh as fine, he added.

The government has enacted The Safe Food Act 2013 which came into effect on February 1, 2015.