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Bangladesh Salt Mill Owner’s Association (BSMOA) on Monday urged the government for restricting the import of sodium sulfate to save local salt millers and cultivators as well as to consider the health risks.They made the call at a press conference at the Jatiya Press Club in the capital. BSMOA president Nurul Kabir read out a statement at the press conference.
“A syndicate is importing harmful white sodium sulfate for mixing it with salt. As a result, local millers and cultivators are facing huge losses. More than 50 percent salt mills have been closed due to import harmful white sodium,” he said. The BSMOA president called upon the authorities of Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporate (BSCIC) to give true information about salt production and the country’s demand.
“BSCIC new chairman told the country’s annual salt demand is 4.37 lakh metric tons which is not right information. The wrong information can affect the slat market ahead of Eid-Ul-Azha,” he also said.
Alleging against the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) of providing wrong information about the production and demand of salt, the Samity leaders said that time has come to unmask the government agencies concerned who provides opportunity to the dishonest traders to import toxic sodium sulfate in the name of salt.
“We sent application to the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to protect the industry through mitigating the problem. We also informed the matter to the Industries and Commerce Ministry and the chairman of Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) to resolve the crisis promptly, but no step is yet to be taken”, Kabir added.
They have underscored the need for accurate data for saving the salt industry in the country, saying that some 60 thousand hectors of land were utilizing for salt production. Of the total land, the government has acquired some 15 thousand hectors of land for power generation as well as developing infrastructure in the recent years resulting lower salt production in the country.
Some 300 salt owners have lost their market for such illegal import of toxic salt, Kabir added.However, the sodium sulfate which is recognized as salt is importing at zero percent tax. The unethical traders are importing such toxic chemical and selling it in the local market. Meanwhile, some corrupt businessmen are also importing sodium chloride which is considered as salt. As a result, the government is incurring huge loss every year. On the other hand, the salt producers are failed to seize the local market.
(AA)
