SM Sahidul Islam, Satkhira

The district administration has fixed the schedule to market Satkhira's mangoes in a safe manner.

According to the schedule, from 09 May Gopalbhog, May 11 Gobindabhog, May 22 Himsagar, May 29 Nyangra and June 10 Amrapali varieties of mangoes will be planted. Step by step other mangoes can be collected. Amrapali mangoes cannot be harvested before June 10.

This instruction was given in a discussion meeting titled 'Safe Mango Marketing' at the conference room of the district administration on Sunday (May 5). Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Humayun Kabir presided over it. Officials of the administration were present at the time.

Officials of the district administration say that unscrupulous traders are grinding unripe mangoes with chemicals and sending them to different parts of the country in the hope of more profit.

Meanwhile, on Saturday (May 4), a mobile court destroyed a truckload of 12 metric tons of unripe Gobindabhoga mangoes laced with harmful chemicals in Satkhira. Two truckloads of mangoes were seized from Pythali and Budhhata of Asashuni upazila of Satkhira.

Later in the afternoon, under the leadership of District Administration Executive Magistrate SM Akash and RAB ASP Faisal Tanveer, it was thrown under the wheels of a car and set on fire with kerosene at Sultanpur PN Secondary School grounds in the city.

Executive Magistrate SM Akash said that raids were conducted in Pythali and Budhhata areas on the news that truckloads of mangoes laced with harmful chemicals were being sent to the capital Dhaka from Pythali and Budhhata in Satkhira. Meanwhile, 12 metric tons of Gobindabhoga mangoes in 500 carats of plastic in truckloads were seized from there. The market price of which is Tk. 19 lakhs.

Executive Magistrate SM Akash said that Satkhira's mangoes have a nationwide reputation. But an unscrupulous gang is trying to market unripe mangoes by using chemicals. This drive will continue to protect the reputation of mangoes in the district and prevent adulterated food from being sold in the market.

Besides, the district administration has asked traders not to collect and market mangoes before the scheduled date. However, action will be taken if there is evidence of mixing harmful chemicals in mangoes.

Earlier, the administration destroyed 9 metric tons of unripe mangoes on May 3.

Already, about 40 metric tons of unripe mangoes have been seized and destroyed in raids at various places in the district.