Afroza urges stronger public-private partnerships for safe, nutritious food

Food Minister Afroza Khanam today stressed the need to strengthen public-private partnerships (PPP) to ensure safe, nutritious and quality food for all citizens of the country.

Food is a basic human need and a universal human right, she said, adding, "Ensuring the basic needs of citizens is one of the fundamental responsibilities of the state under the Constitution. The government is working to ensure safe and nutritious food for every person in the country."

The minister made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a seminar titled "Strengthening Public-Private Partnerships for Fortification in Bangladesh", organised by the Fortification Alliance of Bangladesh (FAB) at the conference room of the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh (KIB) in the capital's Farmgate area.

She said the country's food system needed to be made more modern and responsive to public health needs. Coordinated initiatives are particularly necessary to meet the nutritional needs of vulnerable groups, including women and children, she added.

Afroza Khanam stressed the need to expand food fortification programmes to improve nutritional value by adding essential vitamins and minerals. Effective coordination among relevant organisations, increased public awareness and practical planning could play an important role in this regard, she said.

The minister also said the government is implementing various initiatives to ensure food and nutrition security for the people. To make these initiatives more effective, the scope of collaboration between the public and private sectors needed to be expanded, she added.

Speaking as a special guest, state minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam said coordination and implementation of activities would be easier if the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI), the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection and the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) are brought under the Ministry of Food.

Dr Tahmid Ahmed presented the keynote paper at the seminar. Director General of the Directorate General of Food Md. Jashim Uddin Khan, Bangladesh Food Safety Authority member Anwarul Islam, Tanvir Ahmed, Md Osman Haruni, Faria Shabnam and Zakir Ibn Hai took part in the panel discussion of the event.