Rajshahi, Sept 11 (V7N) – Authorities have confirmed that Moth dal imported from India has been adulterated with harmful chemicals and artificial colors by unscrupulous traders and importing companies for excessive profit. The adulterated dal is being sold across Bangladesh as Mug dal, putting consumers, especially low-income communities, at significant health risk.
 
Officials from the quarantine departments at key land ports stated that the chemical-laced dal is indistinguishable from locally produced Mug dal. While Bangladesh produces some 35,000–36,000 metric tons of Mug dal annually, the country relies on imports for approximately 75 percent of its supply. Traders and importing firms exploit this gap, adulterating Indian Moth dal with chemicals to sell it as Mug dal at higher profit margins.
 
Medical experts have warned of severe health consequences. Rajshahi Civil Surgeon Dr. S.I.M. Raziul Islam and Assistant Director of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, Dr. Abu Taleb, said laboratory reports confirm that consumption of the adulterated dal can impair digestion, cause bloating, and lead to liver disorders, potentially progressing to cirrhosis.
 
Rajshahi District Commissioner Afia Akter stated that, since lab tests confirm the presence of hazardous chemicals, all necessary measures will be taken to protect public health and prevent further distribution.
 
Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) officials emphasized that the Moth dal in question is not on the government-approved import list. They noted that proper lab testing and regulatory intervention are urgently required to halt distribution in local markets.
 
Quarantine authorities from Sonamasjid (Chapainawabganj), Banglabandha (Panchagarh), Hili (Dinajpur), Benapole (Jessore), and Bhomra (Satkhira) land ports reported that multiple importing companies, including Bismillah Flour Mill, Nijhum Shashya Bhandar, M.A. Trade, Shamoli Down Mill, Babur Double Mill, and Salman Khurshid Dal Mill, have brought in large quantities of adulterated Moth dal this year.
 
Officials stressed that immediate government action is essential to prevent further public health hazards and protect consumers from fraudulent trading practices.
 
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