Chattogram:Food Minister Afroza Khanam, MP, expressed confidence that there will be no food supply shortage during Ramadan due to sufficient stock levels.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Minister emphasized the importance of advance preparations to handle increased demand, transportation costs, and international market fluctuations. Her comments came after inspecting the Chattogram jetty and silo, visiting the CSD warehouse in Dewanhat, and inaugurating the Halishahar CSD conference room.
She highlighted the need for effective measures to assess food demand, monitor import and domestic procurement progress, and address supply-chain challenges swiftly. Potential price pressures, such as those from the international fuel oil crisis, were acknowledged, with assurances that the government is working to stabilize market supplies while considering public purchasing power.
Afroza Khanam underscored the necessity of resolving import operation complexities to ensure timely food arrivals, requiring improved coordination among departments. She also noted the importance of addressing manpower shortages and administrative limitations in the Food Department.
The Minister stated that maintaining food security relies on proper storage, effective management, and timely distribution. Officials must coordinate efforts to maintain normal supplies, prevent wastage, and optimize government resources during Ramadan.
She called for realistic planning based on regional demands, warehouse stock levels, and supply capacity to minimize delays, transportation costs, and food wastage. Khanam also mentioned her on-site review of infrastructure functionality and project implementation progress, indicating that necessary actions will be taken to address identified issues.
Regular warehouse maintenance, quality checks of stored food, and operational readiness of essential equipment were also stressed. The Minister expressed optimism that coordinated efforts would enhance food storage capacity, reduce waste, and overcome supply-chain limitations. The Director General of Food, along with officials from the Food Department and district administration, accompanied her during the inspection.