DHAKA, Feb 3, 2019 (BSS)-Describing adulteration of food as one kind of
“corruption”, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said this ill practice must
be stopped at any cost to save the life of the people.
“We earned a huge success in anti-terrorism drive. We are also continuing
our operation against corruption, and adulteration of food is one sort of
graft,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina added: “Our drive against the adulteration of food is going
on and it will continue. We don’t want the people of the country to be
affected by poisoning of food.”
The premier was addressing a function as the chief guest on the occasion
of the National Food Safety Day-2019 at the Krishibid Institution, Bangladesh
at Farmgate here this morning.
She said adulteration of food is a bad habit by character of some people,
nothing else. “It must be stopped (at any cost),” she said, adding the people
are being seriously affected by consuming the poisonous food.
Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzak and Food Minister Sadhan Chandra
Majumdar were present in the function as the special guests.
Food Secretary Shahabuddin Ahmed presided over the function, while
chairman of Bangladesh Food Safety Authority Md Mahfuzul Haque delivered the
welcome address.
Putting emphasis on creating mass awareness against adulteration of food,
the prime minister said nobody has any right to destroy the life of the
people by cheating with them.
“Why you will sell adulterated food items … let you sell better products
and if you want to make good profit you can do this. What will you do, do in
a better way. Nobody has a right to destroy the life of the people by
deceiving them,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said the people must be aware adequately about selling of
adulterated and rotten food in hotels, restaurants and shops.
“Citizens’ awareness is very much necessary and if they are aware about it
nobody will be able to cheat with them,” she said, adding that the government
will do whatever is necessary in this regard.
Highlighting her government’s strides for ensuring food security for all,
the prime minister said the aim of the government is that nobody suffers for
food.
“We’re working to build a beggar-free Bangladesh and we’re distributing
food free of cost among the distressed people as our goal is nobody suffers
for food,” she said.
In this connection, the prime minister asked the Food Ministry to find out
whether there are any people having no food in their houses. “Find out such
people … we will give as much amount of money required for it,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said her government has constituted the National Food Safety
Authority to step up the anti-adulteration drive.
Referring to shortage of manpower in the authority, the premier said steps
will be taken to solve the problem.
The premier said her government is taking steps to continue anti-
adulteration drive in all spheres. “We will take more measures to this end in
future,” she said.
The premier placed emphasis on establishing special food laboratories to
test food by proper methods and said the government will set up such labs.
“There will be a branch of such a laboratory in every division alongside a
central laboratory so that foods can be tested at any places,” she said.
Calling upon the people to change their food habit, the prime minister
said they will have to take balanced food to ensure their nutrition.
“It’s not necessary to consume a huge amount of rice … you’ll have to eat
more vegetables side by side with fish and egg so that the food is balanced
one,” she said, adding it will ensure their nutrition.
Sheikh Hasina also urged the people to try to lead a healthy life by
maintaining hygiene in their houses. “Whatever food you will take, will not
work if you remain unhygienic,” she said.
Pointing out distribution of food free of cost among the distressed
people, the premier said her government has taken steps to reach food to the
people’s doorsteps side by side with boosting production.
“We’ve also taken projects for ensuring nutrition of the people,” she
said.
Sheikh Hasina said the government has taken measures for preserving food
alongside increasing production. “Our capacity of food stock has raised to 21
lakh MT as we constructed a number of modern food godowns and silos in the
last few years,” she said, adding steps are underway to raise the capacity to
27 lakh MT.
The prime minister said the country’s northern region was freed from the
curse of monga (seasonal famine) as her government has ensured food and
nutrition security of the people of the region.
“Once there was a common phenomenon of monga in Rangpur, Gaibandha,
Kurigram and other districts of the region. But that days have gone as we’ve
improved the living standard of the people of the region by ensuring their
food and nutrition,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said her government has given utmost importance to research
to boost food production. “The people of the country are now getting its
benefit,” she said.
The premier once again expressed gratitude to the people for reelecting the
Awami League through the December 30 polls.
“I’m grateful to you for the confidence and trust that you kept in us
through mandate … we will uphold the dignity of vote by ensuring food
security and making Bangladesh as a developed and prosperous country,” she
said.
Earlier, the prime minister handed over prizes among the winners of the
essay competition arranged on the occasion of the National Food Safety Day-
2019.