Jasim Uddin Haroon

The government is yet to take preventive measure against local consumption of Nitrofuran-treated freshwater prawns despite the ban it has slapped on such fish export in January following detection of antibacterial substance in 50 plus consignments.

Director general of the fisheries department Md Rafiqul Islam said: "We are really concerned over marketing of such fish in the local market after the export ban."

He also said: "I will take up the issue soon after receiving official letters from the ministry."

Sources claimed that local people consume at least 30,000 tonnes of freshwater prawns annually and this is marketed without any examinations.

Presence of nitrofuran, a class of drug and used to inhibit bacterial growth, in one part per billion (ppb), promotes cancer in human bodies.

Bangladesh has only two nitrofuran detectable machines, one at the department of fisheries and another Bangladesh Council Science and Industrial Research. But these machines are used mainly for exportable fish.

Local farmers, mainly in Bagerhat, Khulna, Jessore, Narail, Jhalokhathi, Pirojpur and Borguna, cultivate the freshwater prawn on around 50,000 hectares of lands.

Small size prawns are usually sold in the local markets, hotels and restaurants, and the rich are the major consumers of the fish.

Bazlur Rahman, a farmer in Bagerhat said: "We usually supply small size prawns to the local markets."

Mr Bazlur, who is also a director of Bagerhat Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said they supply entire products to local market as the overseas market has been closed for a period of six months.

Mahmudul Karim, an independent expert on fisheries, told the FE : "If it is prohibited for the Europeans, then it is also harmful for local people. But who cares about it."

Mr Karim, managing director of Shrimp Foundation, founded in 2003 to assist the second largest export earning sector, said his organisation has been working to identify the sources of the toxic substance in fish body as it is risky for human consumption and a threat to the sector.

He informed that Glenn Kennedy, a leading international consultant on nitrofuran, will arrive today (Saturday) to work on the issue.

Nesar Ahmed, a professor of the department of the fisheries management at the Bangladesh Agricultural University, said fish meal is a major reason behind the infection of germ in fish.

Mr Ahmed, who conducted a number of studies on the freshwater prawns, said: "Hatcheries that supply fries are also responsible for use of nitrofuran."

Farmers mainly collect fry from natural sources and hatcheries supply around 20 per cent.

Golam Mustafa, a former president of Bangladesh Frozen Foods Exporters Association said: "The government should enact law to prevent marketing of contaminated foods and ensure adequate supply of bacteria detectable machines."

Farms of freshwater prawns, which constitute around one-third of the total shipment, have employed more than 300,000 people.