Huge quantities of imported fruits from Bhutan and India are entering Bangladesh through Burimari land port in Patgram upazila without formalin detection test, posing serious health risk.

According to Burimari land port sources, on average 200 tonnes of fruits like apple and orange are imported from Bhutan and India through the land port everyday.

Officials of quarantine department at the land port have been given the responsibility for conducting formalin test on imported fruits this year while it was the duty of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) last year. 

Upazila Agriculture Officer Noor Alam said agriculture officials performed the duty at the land port last year, but they did not show their interest in performing the duty this year due to illegal pressure from businessmen.  

Labourers, who are engaged in unloading and loading imported fruits at the land port, said they do not see any quarantine officials performing their duties to conduct formalin test on the imported fruits.

However, Sachindra Nath, sub-assistant quarantine officer at the port, claimed that they regularly conducted the test to ensure formalin-free fruits for the consumers.

Local consumers urged the higher authority concerned to monitor the issue strictly in the greater interest of human health.