Illegal Bakery Sealed in Karnaphuli for Producing Food in Unhygienic Conditions

The Upazila administration has sealed off a bakery in Karnaphuli Upazila’s Charpathorghata Union over allegations of producing food items in unhygienic and filthy conditions. During the raid, officials confirmed initial evidence of an environment unfit for food production, a lack of required government approvals, and various other irregularities. Legal action against the establishment is currently underway.

The mobile court, run by the Upazila administration, carried out the raid on Thursday (September 3) morning at the Shah Chomiya area, located behind Yunus Market in Charpathorghata Union.

According to administration sources, upon learning that a mobile court was underway, the bakery’s employees and other individuals associated with the site fled the scene. Before leaving, they locked the main gate of the bakery, but the food production equipment, raw materials and various evidence of ongoing production activities remained inside, untouched.

Officials from the Upazila administration subsequently entered the bakery and found biscuits, cakes, bread and various snack items being produced in extremely unhygienic conditions. Flies were found swarming in several parts of the production area, along with spoiled flour, unclean raw materials and dirty equipment. As the food production environment posed a risk to public health, various food products, raw materials and other items were seized.

Officials involved in the operation said multiple discrepancies were also found in the establishment’s required government approvals and documentation. Initial findings indicate that the bakery lacked several important documents, including certification from the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI), the necessary clearance from the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority, a factory licence, a fire service licence, an environmental clearance certificate, a trade licence, and TIN and VAT registration. Sources said the establishment had reportedly been warned about these issues on multiple occasions in the past.

During the operation, it was also found that the same bakery had been marketing food products under different names at different times, including “Rahman Bakery,” “Frigia Food Products” and “Green Valley.” Officials also noticed that multiple addresses had been used on the packaging of various products.

Although the establishment’s actual location is Shah Chomiya, behind Yunus Market, Charpathorghata, Karnaphuli, Chattogram, the raid revealed that some product packaging listed the address as Char Chaktai, Bakalia, Chattogram — a discrepancy that officials said would also be investigated.

As the bakery owner was not present during the raid, Karnaphuli Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) Md. Riduanul Islam contacted him by phone. Although the owner assured that he would send a representative, no one arrived at the scene despite a long wait.

Following this, and after finding initial evidence confirming the unhygienic production environment, discrepancies in documentation, and various other allegations, the Upazila administration sealed off the establishment.

The mobile court was conducted by Karnaphuli Upazila Executive Officer Md. Riduanul Islam. Also present during the operation were Sanitary Inspector and Food Inspector Titu Kanti Paul, members of Karnaphuli Thana Police, and other officials of the Upazila administration.

Speaking about the operation, UNO Md. Riduanul Islam said that upon hearing of the raid, workers at the facility fled. He added that, according to available information, the establishment had no valid approvals apart from a union trade licence, and that the food production environment was extremely dirty and unhygienic. Despite prolonged efforts to reach the owner, no one could be contacted, he said, adding that the establishment was therefore sealed in the public interest. Further legal action would be taken following investigation, he said.

Local residents said ensuring hygiene standards at food production facilities is extremely important, adding that regular monitoring could significantly reduce the production of substandard and unhygienic food in the area.