Dhaka: Food Adviser Ali Imam Majumder has announced that the government is committed to taking every necessary measure to ensure a steady and safe food supply for the public. He emphasized the importance of active participation from all stakeholders involved in food security during the National Safe Food Management Advisory Council meeting at the Bangladesh Secretariat.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Majumder highlighted that unsafe food poses a significant threat to public health and stressed the need for awareness about safe food, starting at the household level. He acknowledged that while initial steps have been taken to ensure food safety, there remains a need for further progress. Despite the absence of food scarcity in the country, he noted existing challenges in guaranteeing food safety.
Majumder pointed out that enforcing laws and regulations alone is insufficient for ensuring safe food. He called for a collective effort, urging individuals and national bodies to become more conscious and proactive in this regard. As part of the initiative, a ‘food safety referral library’ will be established in Dhaka, along with two food testing centers in Chattogram and Khulna, and a training institute, at a cost of Taka 2409.70 crore. He confirmed that the Japanese government will fund these projects under the Food Safety Testing Capacity Development Project over the next decade.
The meeting also resolved to finalize guidelines and rules for the safe food management authority and the national food safety council, incorporating feedback from stakeholders. Additionally, there was a decision to bolster the manpower of the safe food authority and accelerate its nationwide activities.
Cabinet Secretary Dr. Sheikh Abdur Rashid underscored the need for ensuring the availability of safe food and urged relevant authorities to perform their duties in a coordinated manner. Meanwhile, Public Administration Secretary Dr. Md Mokhles-ur-Rahman stressed the importance of prioritizing food safety and committed to taking necessary steps to enhance the Safe Food Authority’s workforce.