Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumdar has guaranteed that there will be no famine in the country.
“If people do not buy and stock food 3-4 times more than needed in fear of famine, I guarantee that there will be no famine in Bangladesh,” he said while addressing a workshop on Sunday.
The workshop titled “Informing media about safe food laws and regulations”, and the inaugural ceremony of issuance of health certificates for the export of food products was organised by the food ministry at Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) office in the Ramna area in the capital.
The minister said that there is no question of famine in a country where crops grow by just planting the seeds. Famine cannot strike the country where the stock of fertiliser is sufficient for the upcoming IRRI and Boro seasons after bumper production of Aman; where import is continuing even after having sufficient stock of food.
BFSA member Professor Dr Abdul Alim delivered the welcome speech at the inaugural ceremony of the issuance of health certificates for food export.
Sadhan Chandra said, "Earlier, authorities from abroad used to give the food export certificate. From now on, Bangladesh will issue the certificate maintaining international standards and the whole world will know that safe food is available in Bangladesh. As a result, hopefully, exports will accelerate.”
Commenting on the importance of safe food in building a strong nation, the food minister emphasised on ensuring safe food in every household.
Speaking as the special guest at the event, Food Secretary Md Ismail Hossain said, “We have to gain trust in providing universally recognised health certificates for food exports. I hope that the Bangladesh Safe Food Authority will perform its duties properly and accurately.”
BSFA Chairman Md Abdul Qayyum Sarkar who presided over the health certificate issuing ceremony said, “The health certificate issued by BFSA for food exports will increase the overall exports of the country.”
Providing health certificates to two companies, ESL Bangladesh Limited and Trust and Trade, the BSFA officially inaugurated the certificate issuance programme.
BFSA member Manzoor Morshed Ahmed presented the keynote at the workshop on safe food laws and regulations which started at 11:30 am.
Citing various sections and chapters of the Safe Food Act, he discussed food pollutants, the use of additives, preservation of a healthy environment, traders’ obligations, toxins, harmful residues, trans fatty acid control, and regulations on the withdrawal of toxic food products.
It was reported in the workshop that one in every 10 people in the world suffers from and 4,20,000 people die of foodborne illness every year. One in every three children dies from foodborne illness. In Southeast Asia, 150 million people fall ill due to foodborne illness, and among them, 175,000 die, including 50,000 children.
Officials of BSFA and various government departments, representatives of exporting organisations, and media attended the workshop and the health certificate issuance ceremony.
BFSA Legal Officer Sheikh Md Ferdous Arafat conducted the event.
