Toxic Substance Found in 135 Tonnes of Rice Imported from India
Rice imported from India under a government-to-government (G2G) agreement was initially declared fit for consumption. However, subsequent tests detected aflatoxin, a toxic and harmful substance, in 135 tonnes of rice stored at the Halishahar Central Storage Depot (CSD) in Chittagong.
Halishahar CSD Manager Iqbal Mahmud confirmed the findings on Friday (October 23). He said aflatoxin had been detected in the 135 tonnes of imported rice and that samples had been sent to a laboratory for further testing.
According to Food Department sources, the rice was brought from India aboard the vessel MV HT Pioneer. The ship arrived at the outer anchorage of Chittagong Port on July 21. The following day, samples were collected in the presence of a five-member team from the Directorate General of Food. After the test report declared the rice fit for consumption, it was unloaded on July 24 and 25.
A portion of the rice was later sent to the Tejgaon CSD in Dhaka, the Halishahar and Dewanhat CSDs in Chittagong, and the Joydebpur Local Supply Depot (LSD) in Gazipur. However, officials at the depots raised objections after finding the quality of the rice to be poor. Transport contractors also suspended deliveries because the rice appeared unfit for consumption. The matter was subsequently reported in writing to the Food Secretary and the Director General of the Directorate General of Food.
The authorities then took steps to reassess the quality of the imported rice. On August 17, a two-member team led by Dr Sharifa Sultana Dipti, chief scientific officer of the Crop Quality and Nutrition Division at the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute in Gazipur, visited Chattogram. The team collected rice samples from several stacks at the Halishahar and Dewanhat CSDs. Subsequent tests detected aflatoxin in 135 tonnes of rice at the Halishahar depot.
Food Department sources said the distribution of 9,500 tonnes of rice had been suspended for quality testing on the instructions of Director General of Food Jasim Uddin Khan. Tests found the harmful substance in 135 tonnes. The remaining rice has been distributed in accordance with the rules, said Halishahar CSD Manager Iqbal Mahmud and Dewanhat CSD Manager Hamim Rahman.
Rejwan Sakib, controller of the Movement and Storage Division of the Chattogram Food Department, said he had been informed that aflatoxin was detected in the rice at Halishahar CSD. A committee has also been formed to conduct further tests.
Experts warn that aflatoxin contamination in food poses a serious risk to public health. The toxin is mainly produced by fungi belonging to the Aspergillus genus. These fungi can grow in grains, nuts and rice when they remain in damp or otherwise favourable conditions for an extended period. According to experts, prolonged consumption of food contaminated with aflatoxin can damage the liver and significantly increase the risk of liver cancer.
