Moshiur Rahman Selim, Cumilla South 

Throughout the markets of the greater Laksam upazila in southern Cumilla, hotels, restaurants, and various types of food shops are openly operating in unhygienic conditions, selling stale and rotten food   has now become an "open secret."

 The sale of adulterated food in these shops is increasing health risks for hundreds of thousands of people in the region. Everyone seems to be running these businesses however they wish.

Even during the holy month of Ramadan, the local administration conducted mobile court drives repeatedly, but could not curb these activities.

Due to the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, people often don't pay attention to where or what they're eating. Bright, flashy food items at these restaurants and food stalls tend to attract customers more. Especially those who don't have time to cook at home or are busy with work often rely on eating at restaurants.

Despite repeated warnings from local doctors to avoid fast food and unhealthy items, people continue consuming them. But the fear doesn't lie solely in the food itself — the greater concern is whether proper hygiene and safety protocols are being followed in food preparation, packaging, or delivery.

There’s little to no awareness about cleanliness in kitchens, food delivery systems, or among hotel staff. There’s a lack of trained cooks, hygiene in cooking areas, and standard safety practices. Essentially, there is no sign of government regulations being followed.
Though the local administration occasionally fines these establishments through mobile court drives, it has failed to bring the businesses under control.

Doctors at several private hospitals in the southern region of the district report that regular consumption of food from these hotels and eateries can lead to inflammation in the human body. These foods often contain harmful substances like monosodium glutamate (MSG), polythene, artificial coloring, and other chemicals. These can cause severe diseases and increase health risks.

According to Section 23 of the Safe Food Act 2013 in Bangladesh, it is illegal for food shop owners to directly or indirectly use any substance or ingredient harmful to human health — such as cadmium, saccharin, ethyl acetate, excessive sugar, calcium carbide, artificial flavor enhancers, formalin, sodium, cyclamate, pesticides, or PCBs. Yet, many shops continue to do so.

Globally, nearly 600 million people fall sick annually from consuming contaminated food from such establishments, and about 450,000 die as a result. Among them, 43% are children under the age of five, and about 125,000 of those children die each year. Despite these alarming statistics, hotel and restaurant owners in this region disregard government guidelines due to the lack of strict enforcement by local authorities.

Sources further reveal that due to the use of these harmful chemicals, people are suffering from skin diseases, jaundice, diarrhea, and other complications. The liver, lungs, airways, blood vessels, gallbladder, and other organs can be severely affected. The risks of kidney disease, heart problems, and even cancer are also increasing.

Moreover, food items like spices mixed with brick dust and sawdust, cooking oil, flour, puffed rice, rice, sugar, sweets, grilled items, haleem, chotpoti, cakes, and biscuits are not free from adulteration. Around 85% of fish contain formalin, vegetables are sprayed with toxic chemicals, and fruits are ripened using carbide, ethopen, and other preservatives. These are silently worsening public health day by day.

Even though there are sanitary inspectors in both the upazila and municipal areas, they seem to remain mysteriously silent.
Attempts were made multiple times to contact officials from the relevant departments of Laksam Upazila and Municipality for comments, but they could not be reached.