Many diseases can be prevented by getting good health through proper diet. And through this one can refrain from taking unwanted drugs.
Former Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University AAMS Arefin Siddique came up with such assertion while speaking as the chief guest at a workshop on 'Role of Media in Ensuring Safe Food' organized by the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) at its Head Office in the capital on Thursday.
Arefin Siddique said, “The country is now self-sufficient in food. Ensuring safe food is the key now. One in 10 people in the world suffer from food poisoning every day. Around 450,000 people die of food poisoning in the world every year. Food poisoning can take a person to any stage. The role of the media is also important for this.”
Hotels and restaurants were raided and fined. But many of the businessmen collect this money from the buyers. Permanent and effective measures are needed to ensure safe food along with fines, he stressed.
It is important to raise awareness at all levels including food producers, processors, consumers to ensure safe food. It is very difficult to work with the BFSA manpower across the country. Permanent and effective measures are needed to ensure safe food as well as fines for vendors of adulterated, rotten food.
BFSA chairman at the workshop Abdul Qayyum Sarkar said “If food is safe, it will help in human health as well as intellectual development. At present 330 people are working in BFSA. Ensuring safe food for people across the country with so little manpower is a daunting task.”
He also said that the campaign against the sellers of adulterated or rotten food will continue.
BFSA member Rezaul Karim said if safe food is ensured, it can become an export sector like ready-made garments by meeting the demand of the country.
Presenter of BTV's Mati O Manus Rezaul Karim Siddique presented the keynote paper at the workshop, BFSA Chairman Md. Abdul Qayyum Sarkar presided over the workshop. President of Agricultural Journalists Forum Golam Iftekhar Mahmud and many others also spoke.
