Dhaka – The government is putting emphasis on providing people with more nutritious food, Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder said Thursday.
“As we’ve attained sufficiency in food production, we’re now looking for ways to provide our people with more nutritious food,” said he said.
He made the remarks at ‘National Level Discussion Meeting on Promoting Nutrition among the Adolescents’ arranged jointly by World Food Programme (WFP) and Shornokishoree Network Foundation (SKNF) with Bangladesh’s support at CIRDAP Auditorium in the city.
The event focused on promoting adolescent nutrition project and presenting benefits of fortified rice (Pushti Chaal), a modification of regular rice with added micronutrients.
Minister Sadhan said the government is concerned about food safety and ensuring nutritious food supply to all citizens as it is necessary for sustainable development.
“The government is taking measures to soon introduce fortified rice in local market,” he added.
WFP Deputy Country Director Alpha Bah said that two billion people suffer from micronutrient deficiency across the world.
“Lots of development has been made in Bangladesh. But more needs to be done,” said Alpha Bah.
He further said infrastructural development is needed for effective implementation of the projects to deliver fortified rice to the poor and school going adolescents.
“Our aim is to introduce fortified rice at an affordable price,” he added.
Director of Directorate of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (DSHE) Prof Dr Prabir Kumar Bhattacharjee said fortified rice will be supplied to over two million poor within 2019.
Food Secretary Shahabuddin Ahmed, among others, spoke on the occasion. UNB
