DHAKA: People are getting benefits after steps taken by the government for control and prevention of adulteration of the food. Drives will be continued against the food adulterators, said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The premier told the parliament Wednesday in a question-answer session chaired by the Speaker Shirin Sharmin Choudhury.

The PM answered to a question of Rajshahi-4 MP Enamul Haque saying the incumbent government has been taking several steps to save the nation from food adulteration.

She said that her government is taking initiatives regarding consumers’ rights protection law, establishing a separate directorate, controlling formalin import, drafting law in controlling formalin, taking programs to create mass awareness and market monitoring to provide fresh food.

By this time, 8,796 business houses have already been fined with TK 8,08,98,300 for selling adulterated food and medicine, she informed the Parliament.

From 2009 to till the date, mobile courts have fined 2,833 business houses with TK1,23,71,850 and punished 17 people in different terms, the PM added.

According to her information, everyday 14 or 15 monitoring teams are visiting markets to prevent food adulteration across the country.

Moreover, to another question from Fazilatun Nesa, the PM answered Padma Bridge is no longer a dream, it is now to be materialized soon.

The premier hoped that vehicular movement will begin over the much-waited Padma Bridge in 2018.

Government has also been working to bring Bangladesh to a middle income country by 2021, the prime minister further said.

BDST: 1401 HRS, JUNE 25, 2014