Five jailed in Chunarughat for holding a trade fair without permission

Five people have been jailed in Chunarughat of Habiganj for organising a trade fair without the administration's permission.

According to reports, the fair was organised without obtaining any permission. Once the matter came to the administration's notice, legal action was taken against those involved and the jail sentences for the five were carried out.

Chunarughat is an upazila of Habiganj district, which falls under Sylhet Division. The other districts of Sylhet Division are Sylhet, Moulvibazar and Sunamganj.

In the country, large events such as trade fairs generally require prior permission from the local administration. The permission process is meant to ensure proper venue selection, security arrangements, fire-safety preparedness, sanitation and protection of consumer interests.

When a fair runs without permission, there is a risk of consumer deception, sale of adulterated or substandard goods and overpricing. That is why the administration from time to time conducts drives against unauthorised fairs.

Fairs and trade fairs are organised seasonally in different districts of Sylhet Division. Besides local traders, sellers from far-off areas take part in these events, which makes permission and oversight all the more important.

Under the law, organising such a fair without permission is a punishable offence. It is hoped that the jailing of these five will discourage others from organising fairs without permission in the future.

Full details of the incident — exactly where the fair was set up and who the organisers were — are not yet known. Readers will be updated as new information becomes available.