‘Media’s role vital in promoting animal protein consumption’

The media has a crucial role in raising awareness on animal protein consumption to help build a healthy nation, speakers observed at a meeting on Thursday.

At the colloquium, media gatekeepers emphasised strengthening the media-industry relationship and making information available.

The Bangladesh Poultry Industries Central Council (BPICC), with support from the US Soybean Export Council (USSEC), organised the colloquium at a Dhaka hotel.  

In the keynote paper, Professor Dr Khaleda Islam of nutrition and food science of Dhaka University said that animal protein is better than plant protein.

“There are various myths and misconceptions about poultry egg and broiler meat which obstruct increasing animal protein intake. Although every adult needs one gram of protein per kg of body weight, most

Bangladeshis have had less than the standard. People suffer from different diseases due to protein deficiencies,” she said.

Prof Khaleda said adolescent boys and girls and pregnant mothers should consume more protein, especially animal protein.

Pronab Saha, Editor of DBC News, said that there was propaganda against the poultry industry. Sometimes, doctors also gave misleading information about eggs.

Pronab claimed that there is a difference between government data on egg, chicken and meat production with the actual output.

Saiful Alam, Editor of the Daily Jugantor, said that he consumed two eggs daily when he contracted Covid-19. “Awareness has been raised in city areas but the rural areas remain in the dark,” he said.

Ibrahim Azad, Head of News of Dipto TV, requested the industry leaders to conduct research on chicken meat. 

Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul, Editor in chief of TV Today, said that it would take a long time to change the food habit of the people. He suggested the industry to run an exclusive campaign to reduce dependency on rice and increase protein intake.

Enamul Hoque Chowdhury, Editor of the Daily Sun; Nazmul Ahsan, Executive Editor of the Business Post; Abdul Quayum Mukul, Associate Editor of the Prothom Alo; Talat Mamun, Executive Director of Channel-24; Jamal Uddin, Business Editor of Daily Ittefaq; Kawser Rahman, Chief Reporter of Daily Janakantha;

Salam Jubayer, Chief Reporter of Daily Sangbad; SM Jahangir, Chief Reporter of the Financial Express; Salah Uddin Bablu, Business Editor of SATV; Sajjad Alam Khan Topu, Business Editor of Jamuna Television attended the colloquium moderated by Prof

Golam Rahman, Editor of Ajker Patrika and former chief information commissioner. 

Moshiur Rahman, President of BPICC, presided the colloquium.

Moshiur said that egg and chicken production fell due to Covid-19. An increase in raw materials’ prices has pushed up the production cost.

Ihtesham B Shahjahan, President of Feed Industries Association (FIAB), said that the poultry, dairy and fisheries industries have been moving forward, meeting the local demand and, in some cases, earning foreign currency.

FIAB Secretary Md Ahsanuzzaman said that we should not export soybean meal as we are getting 75-80 per cent of it from the local industry. He suggested focusing on exporting value-added products.