Bangladesh lags behind on consumer security, speakers say

GBNews24 Desk//

Although Bangladesh has now become food self-sufficient, it is still lagging behind to provide food security to the consumers, said speakers at a seminar titled ‘Golden Jubilee of Independence: Expectation and Achievement in Food Security and Protecting Consumers Interest organized by Voluntary Consumers Training and Awareness Society (VOCTA).

To encounter these challenges and prevent violence of food safety and security, the speakers pointed out that government action and vast awareness among the citizens are mandatory.

The seminar was held at the auditorium of Centre for Advanced Research in Sciences (CARS) on the Dhaka University (DU) campus at around 10:30 am on Saturday.

Presided over by Prof Hossain Uddin Shekhar, President of VOCTA, Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder was present as the chief guest while Prof Mizanur Rahman, former Vice Chancellor of Jagannath University and Syed Ishtiaque Reza, chief executive officer of Global Television, addressed the programme as the special guests.

VOCTA executive director Md Khalilur Rahman Sajal delivered the welcome speech while Mohosinul Karim Lebu, director of VOCTA, presented the keynote paper. Besides, Prof Latiful Bari, chief scientist of CARS and M S Siddiqui, legal economist and advisor of Bangladesh Competition Commission, discussed the main essay.

The speakers in this seminar said the country did not reach the desired goal in protecting consumer rights.

“This is because the traders in the markets are in a favourable position whereas the consumers are in a helpless and dark situation. Still some unscrupulous syndicates are creating a fish out of water situation for the consumers by hiking prices of commodities and creating artificial crises in the markets,” said Md Khalilur Rahman Sajal.

Reflecting the rich situation of the country in the world stage in terms of food sufficiency, Mohosinul Karim said Bangladesh has largely become food self-sufficient, adding, “Especially in the production of grain and granular food products.”