Photo : BSS

RAJSHAHI, Nov 24, 2025 (BSS) - Speakers at a meeting today emphasized that integrated efforts of all the government and non-government organizations concerned can be the crucial means of protecting consumer rights. 

They also stressed the need for strict monitoring of food quality and accurate measurement of products in retail markets as the protection of consumer rights is essential for ensuring sound public health.

Government officials and experts made the observations while addressing the opening session of a daylong "Divisional level capacity building training on food fortification and consumers rights".

Local committee of Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) organized the event at the conference hall of Deputy Commissioner (DC) supported by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN).

CAB President AHM Shafiquzzaman and Commissioner of Rajshahi division ANM Bazlur Rashid addressed the session as chief and special guests respectively with DC Afia Akhter in the chair.

Presenting the keynote paper, Lailun Naher, Project Coordinator, Food Fortification, GAIN, highlighted various aspects of food safety and the harmful effects of consuming unsafe food.

She pointed out that adulterated and contaminated foods pose serious risks to public health and stressed the need for ensuring safe and nutritious food for all.

She also urged for collaborative efforts to ensure food safety for the greater interests of protecting public health from hazards.

Lailun Naher attributed that food fortification is the process of adding essential vitamins and minerals (micronutrients) to commonly consumed foods to improve public health and reduce malnutrition.

GAIN supports this as a cost-effective way to deliver key nutrients to large populations, helping to prevent deficiency-related diseases such as birth defects, blindness, and brain damage. 

She added that the "Gain" in food fortification refers to the gain in nutritional value and health outcomes, not a financial gain for the consumer.

Speaking on the occasion, CAB President AHM Shafiquzzaman emphasized that collective efforts from all quarters are necessary to ensure food safety for ensuring sound public health.

He told the meeting that CAB activities will be intensified more for ensuring consumers rights.

Commissioner Bazlur Rashid said the number of patients suffering from non-communicable diseases such as heart ailments and cancer is increasing due to the rising intake of unhygienic and unsafe foods.

In her remarks, DC Afia Akhter said adulterated and unhygienic animal-source foods put public health in jeopardy. She called for building social resistance against all ill attempts to make food unsafe.

CAB presidents and general secretaries from all eight districts under the division and others concerned were present at the training.