Dhaka: Bangladesh is on the brink of obtaining international recognition for its self-sufficiency in iodized salt usage, a status achieved when 90 percent of a country’s population consumes iodized salt. Currently, 76 percent of Bangladeshi households use iodized salt, and the nation needs to extend this coverage to an additional 14 percent to attain the recognition.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, this information was disclosed at a seminar celebrating ‘World Iodine Day-2025’ held at the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) Bhaban. The seminar aimed to address iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) and promote public awareness about the issue.
Industries Secretary Md Obaidur Rahman served as the chief guest, while BSCIC Chairman Saiful Islam presided over the event. The seminar featured Dr. Nazmul Hossain, Director General of the Directorate General of Health Education, as the special guest, and Dr. Ashik Mahfuz, Portfolio Lead for Large Scale Food Fortification GAIN Bangladesh, presented the keynote paper.
Iodine deficiency is acknowledged as a major global public health issue and remains a significant micronutrient deficiency problem in Bangladesh. The seminar underscored iodine’s critical role in human mental and physical development.
Historically, before the 1990s, iodine deficiency was a severe problem in Bangladesh, especially in northern districts where visible goiter was common. The absence of adequate iodine can lead to conditions such as goiter, dwarfism, premature abortion, and intellectual disabilities.
To combat these issues, the government implemented the Universal Iodized Salt Production Program in the 1990s, overseen by BSCIC under the Ministry of Industries. This initiative included registering salt mills, offering technical support, supplying potassium iodate, and monitoring markets and mills.
As a result of sustained efforts over three decades, visible goiter and dwarfism have been eradicated in Bangladesh. The National Nutrition Survey of 1993 showed that 8.8 percent of the population had visible goiter, and 0.6 percent suffered from dwarfism.
Md Obaidur Rahman emphasized the importance of public awareness in eradicating iodine-related diseases. Dr. Ashik Mahfuz noted Canada’s pioneering role in salt fortification and explained that potassium iodate is used in Bangladesh for its stability, even when exposed to air or heat.
He also stressed the importance of daily iodine consumption, as the body does not store it. Key discussants included Md Khairuzzaman, Director of Industrial Development and Expansion at BSCIC; Sarwar Hossain, Chief of the Salt Cell at BSCIC Dhaka; Md. Gulzar Ahmed, Country Manager of TechnoServe, Bangladesh; and Nurul Kabir, President of the Bangladesh Salt Mill Owners Association.
The seminar was attended by representatives from development partners Nutrition International (NI) and GAIN, the Bangladesh Salt Mill Owners Association, various ministries, government and non-government institutions, and salt mill owners, along with general consumers.