The draft anti-formalin law with the provision to provide life sentence as maximum penalty to offenders has got the final approval of the Cabinet.
Published : 30 Jun 2014, 01:12 PM
The meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday gave nod to the draft Formalin Control Act 2014 submitted to it by the Ministry of Commerce.
Traders will require licenses to sell, carry and store the preservative once the law is passed, said Cabinet Secretary Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan.
Mobile courts and police have found the chemical being used rampantly in almost all seasonal fruits and fish during anti-formalin drives in markets across the country.
"Formalin use is a cause of serious worry. This law was made to control and stop its misuse,” Bhuiyan told reporters after the meeting.
“This law will not allow import, production, transport, storage and selling of formalin without a license.”
The approved law has provisions for various terms of punishment for misuse of formalin.
Involvement in use of formalin without a license may lead to life imprisonment and fine worth Tk 2 million.
Authorities reserve the right to conduct inquiry about these license holders on the quantam of formalin they possess, he said. “They will have to keep an account of how much formalin they have.”
Violation of conditions explicit in the license will lead to two to seven years in prison or fine from Tk 200,000 to Tk 500,000. Both imprisonment and fine may be applicable at the same time, said the cabinet secretary.
Possession of equipment that maybe used to produce formalin is a punishable offence under the proposed law and convicts may be sentenced to two to 10 years of imprisonment or fined.
“The law says mobile courts can judge these offences but it can refer the case to a relevant court if the punishment required is large enough.”
Formalin, formaldehyde, paraformaldehyde and other solutions of this nature will be defined under the law. Bhuiyan said once the law is passed more clauses will be added and the purview decided.
The draft law has 6 articles and 37 sections. Its enforcement through warrant, raids and arrest will be in accordance with the criminal procedure. The law will lead to formation of Formalin Control Committes in each district and Upazila.
The charges under this law are cognisable and will authorise law enforcers to arrest without warrant without chances of bail.