Consumer Rights Raid at Adulterated Jaggery Factory in Harirampur

As the date palm sap season approaches, markets across the country brim with the sweet aroma of freshly made jaggery. However, not all that glitters is gold — in a shocking revelation, authorities have uncovered a factory producing adulterated jaggery without a drop of natural sap, deceiving consumers year after year.

Early Tuesday morning, the Department of Consumer Rights Protection (DCRP) conducted a surprise raid at a factory located in Mojmpara, within Gopinathpur Union of Harirampur Upazila. The operation was launched following a tip-off about the manufacture and sale of substandard, synthetic jaggery.

Leading the raid, Asaduzzaman Rumel, Additional Deputy Director of Manikganj District Office, oversaw the confiscation and destruction of production equipment, furnaces, around 10 kilograms of adulterated jaggery, and artificial sugar known locally as chitagur. During the operation, the factory owner, Kokil Uddin, and his wife were found actively producing jaggery without any natural sap.

Local residents reported that Kokil Uddin had long been involved in producing jaggery using chitagur instead of genuine date palm sap, routinely supplying it to local markets. “What was sold under the guise of natural jaggery was, in reality, pure fraud,” said one resident.

Speaking after the raid, Mr Rumel stated, “Even without using natural sap, Kokil was producing 10 to 15 kilograms of jaggery daily. This was a deliberate attempt to deceive consumers. All adulterated jaggery, artificial sugar, and production equipment have been destroyed in accordance with the law.”

He added that anti-adulteration campaigns would continue to safeguard public interest, and strict legal action would be pursued against anyone engaging in such unethical practices.

Details of Seized Items

The raid serves as a stern warning to unscrupulous traders: the government is closely monitoring the market for adulterated products, and consumer protection will remain a top priority.