A mobile court and a consumer rights team have fined two establishments Tk1 lakh in total for producing adulterated and fake milk in Faridpur upazila of Pabna district.

One factory was temporarily sealed and a person was sentenced to 15 days in jail during a joint drive by the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP) and the upazila administration.

At a premises owned by Shamim Hossain in Purendrapur Uttarpara, officials recovered 100 grams of hydrogen peroxide allegedly used to adulterate milk. The owner was fined Tk50,000 under Section 42 of the Consumer Rights Protection Act, 2009.

At Swapna Dairy Farm, officials found jelly, soybean oil and a blending machine allegedly used to produce fake milk. The establishment was fined Tk50,000, while one person was jailed for 15 days. The factory was also temporarily sealed.

The drive followed confidential information about the production and sale of adulterated milk in the area. Officials conducted surveillance under the cover of a free medical assistance and health awareness programme before launching the operation in the evening.

Two drums of jelly and one drum of palm oil seized during the drive were destroyed. Police and members of Special Response Battalion (SRB)-12 assisted the operation.

Officials warned that adulterated milk poses serious public health risks and urged consumers to buy milk from reliable sources and report suspected violations.

The DNCRP said such enforcement drives would continue. Consumers can report suspected violations to its National Consumer Complaint Centre at hotline 16121.