After high prices in Burichang upazila of Cumilla, customers are buying unripe watermelons. Due to the high demand and price of the juicy fruit during summer, seasonal traders are supplying malnourished (unripe) watermelons. These unripe watermelons, collected from farmers in different parts of the country at low prices, are being sold to retailers in return for a fixed amount of 'commission'. The traders are counting the profit, but after taking it home, the customers are disappointed to see the inside color of the watermelon is white instead of red. According to the law, such activities of the sellers are called fraud, but the concerned cannot take any action. In this case, no one is complaining directly. Many people are posting pictures on Facebook after being cheated into buying unripe watermelon. Again, news about this is being published in the media.
Upazila Assistant Land Commissioner Chamiul Islam said that it is a crime not to supply proper products as promised. A buyer of ripe watermelon after taking it home, is disappointed to see the inside color of the watermelon is white instead of red. Buyers pay because they will buy. Supplying unripe watermelons in this case is fraud under the Consumer Rights Act. He also said that action would be taken if anyone cheated by buying unripe watermelon complaints to their office. However, in this case, there must be a receipt for the purchase of watermelon. If it is not there, no complaint can be proved and no action can be taken against any seller. Watermelon will take another 10 to 15 days to fully mature.
Jamal, a fruit trader in Kalikapur market, said that retailers are flocking here to buy watermelons. They are buying watermelons even though they are not fully ripe. Watermelon is sold by retailers at the consumer level. In this case, they are not responsible. Mufti, Md. Abul Hossain Al Qadri said traders are feeding raw watermelon to the people. May they come out of this dishonest practice. Food that cannot be eaten by himself, is wrong to sell that product to others. Burichong Upazila Agriculture Officer Afrina Akhter said that selling unripe watermelons is completely unfair. He said that he would take immediate action in this regard by monitoring.
ZH
