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A factory in Bogura has been fined Tk 200,000 and its production unit sealed for allegedly manufacturing low-quality and potentially hazardous sanitary pads and surgical products without proper approval.
The action was taken during a joint operation by Rab-12 Bogura and the Directorate of National Consumers’ Right Protection on Sunday afternoon in the Fulbighi Uttarpara area of the city.
According to officials, the factory, Esha Enterprise, was producing sanitary napkins for women, nebulisers and breast pumps for infants, along with other surgical products, at a residential property without authorisation and in unhygienic conditions.
Acting on a tip-off, the authorities raided the premises and found evidence of the illegal production. Factory owner Emdadul Haque was fined Tk 200,000, while the section involved in the unauthorised activities was sealed.
Mehedi Hasan, assistant director of the Bogura district office of the Directorate of National Consumers’ Right Protection, said the factory was producing the products without mandatory BSTI certification.
He said sanitary napkins marketed under the brands Jaba and Safe Care carried a manufacturing address in Dhamrai, which constituted deception under Section 44 of the Consumer Rights Protection Act.
The official said the napkins were made using very low-quality cotton wrapped with ordinary fresh tissue paper before being packaged. Such products could pose serious health risks to women, he added.
Rab-12 Bogura Company Commander Firoz Ahmed said the unit was identified through intelligence information, after which the consumer rights authorities were informed and a joint operation was conducted.
He added that only the portion of the factory involved in producing potentially harmful products was sealed, while sections manufacturing other safe products were allowed to continue operating.