Speakers urge govt
Speakers at a seminar yesterday demanded of the government to form a food and drug administration department to implement the laws to ensure food and drug safety as well as to check adulterated and toxic food.
They placed the demand while addressing a seminar titled “Vision statement and necessity of toxic food and drug control administration” jointly organised by the Poribesh Bachao Andolon (POBA) and Bangladesh Scouts, Dhaka district unit Rover at the Public Library.
POBA Chairman Abu Naser Khan in his keynote paper said the dishonest traders and profit mongers are using toxic chemicals to ripen fruits and keep the vegetables and fish fresh posing a serious health hazard.
Due to lack of coordination among the government agencies like Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI), Food and Sanitation Department of the Dhaka City Corporation (DCC), Department of Environment and Public Health Institute, no effective measure has been taken to check the toxic food and food mixed with chemical and drug, he said.
He cautioned that if such a situation continues, it will affect the country’s economy as the consumers will opt for foreign products giving up the domestic ones.
MANAS founder president Dr Arup Ratan Chowdhury presided over the seminar.
Dr Arup Ratan said the risk of liver and kidney diseases and cancer are increasing alarmingly because of taking toxic food.
Shamim Ahmed, joint secretary of the Bangladesh Scouts, Dhaka district unit Rover, said he would extend cooperation from his side to strengthen the movement against adulterated food.
Tapan Kumar Nath, deputy secretary of the industries ministry, POBA Programme Officer Atiq Morshed and over 50 members of Bangladesh Scouts were present at the function.
