Speaking at a seminar titled ‘Role of Safe Food in Building Smart Bangladesh’, Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumdar highlighted the importance of declaring another war of independence in the pursuit of food safety. He emphasized the need for goodwill and awareness to build a smart nation through the provision of safe food to all citizens.
The seminar, organized by the Bangladesh Safe Food Authority, took place at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in the city on Thursday.
Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumdar expressed the necessity of creating a smart nation to achieve a smart Bangladesh. He emphasized that fostering intelligence from birth is crucial, and the physical well-being of children is essential in building a smart nation. Recalling the vision of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, regarding safe food, Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumdar highlighted the inclusion of safe food provisions in the constitution. He emphasized that special powers were enacted to combat food adulteration during Bangabandhu’s era.
However, after his assassination, the implementation of these laws faltered, leading to a decline in the availability of nutritious food and even the basic three meals of rice for the people of Bangladesh.
The minister urged the creation of a smart nation starting from individual households, stating that if the mothers in each household are smart, the nation can gradually progress towards becoming smart. Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumdar emphasized the importance of breastfeeding infants for their physical and intellectual development, expressing concern about the early introduction of outside foods, which hampers the path to building a smart nation.
Highlighting the Bangladesh Safe Food Authority's efforts, Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumdar noted that the authority began its journey with a small workforce but has now established district food authority teams across the country. These teams are actively working to prevent food waste and enhance food safety measures. The minister acknowledged that while progress has been made, building a smart nation through safe food is only possible with individual awareness and goodwill. He called for a renewed battle for food security in order to achieve safe food accessibility for all citizens, contributing to the development of smart nations and countries.
State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain, present as a special guest, emphasized the need for proper nutrition knowledge among the population. He noted that while people have access to an adequate food supply, they lack awareness regarding balanced and nutritious diets. Minister Farhad Hossain emphasized that a balanced diet increases life expectancy and highlighted the transformation Bangladesh has undergone, with a significant improvement in average life expectancy.
Secretary of the Ministry of Food Md. Ismail Hossain highlighted the dangers of unsafe food, stating that more people perish from consuming unsafe food than those who die due to lack of food. He stressed the importance of raising awareness and fulfilling individual responsibilities to ensure the consumption of safe food.
Director General of Food Directorate Sakhawat Hossain emphasized that safe food is crucial for building good citizens. He emphasized the role of safe food in fostering a healthy, strong, and smart Bangladesh. Sakhawat Hossain urged individuals to consume safe food and encourage those around them to do the same.
The seminar also featured a keynote presentation by Dr. Sahdat Hossain Siddiqui, Professor of the Economics Department at Dhaka University. Officials from the Bangladesh Safe Food Authority, the Ministry of Food, and the Directorate of Consumer Rights were in attendance.
