Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder on Thursday called upon everyone to come forward to ensure safe food The Food Minister said this at the inauguration ceremony of Safe Food Carnival at the Hall of Fame of Bangabandhu International Conference Centre. The food minister said that it costs a little more to get quality food. "We have to create the mentality that we will eat less but eat quality food if necessary. If it is cheap, there is a tendency to eat more. In that case, he commented that it should be bought only after confirming the quality," he also said. He said that once a lot of shrimps were exported from the country, but after the addition of harmful jelly exports started to decline. Entire Bangladesh to be brought under rail network: Railways Minister Pointing out that there is a demand for quality products abroad, he said, quality products must be ensured to be exported abroad. He also said the production of exportable products should be increased alongside gaining the confidence of foreign buyers. " If the imam of the mosque makes the Muslims aware about safe food , then the awareness will increase. If the school teacher encourages at least 2 minutes about safe food before his lecture, it will have an impact on the students," he added. Urging all to come forward from their respective  positions, he also said that once there was a shortage of food in the country, there was also manga. "We are not there now. We have become self-sufficient in food grain production. Now we are working on providing nutritious and safe food to consumers," he also added. Secretary of the Ministry of Food Ismail Hossain said that awareness should be increased for safe food. Nasrul Hamid trashes demand for removing electricity-run autorickshaws from streets Saying that food safety has already been included in the textbooks, he said that there are plans to extend it up to secondary level. If it is up to the secondary level, it will not be required at the college level. There are inspiring people in the society to work here, he said. "If the issue of safe food can be taught from primary education then the matter will be easier," he said Abdul Qayyum Sarkar, Chairman of Safe Food Authority, was the special guest at the event. Later the food minister visited various stalls of safe food products. On the occasion of National Safe Food Day, 2024, the three-day 'Safe Food Carnival', which started for the first time with the country's traditional food, will play an important role in informing the public about the safety practices of various food establishments in food production, processing and export and in increasing inter-coordination among establishments. The food carnival is open to all for three consecutive days from 8 am to 10 pm every day. Visitors do not have to pay any additional entry fee to enter the carnival. No narcotic substances found in energy drinks: Industries Minister  Safe Food Authority is organising this carnival to inform common people about food safety related to food production, processing and export of various establishments and to increase inter-coordination among food establishments. The carnival will have a variety of traditional regional foods starting from Mejban of Chittagong, Dai of Bogra, Kalai Ruti of Rajshahi, Matri Bhandar of Comilla, Shalik of Cox's Bazar, Manda of Muktagacha. In addition to these, there will be five-star hotel's famous food arrangements. Special menus of five star hotels like Hotel Intercontinental, Pan Pacific, Holiday Inn, Dhaka Regency, Crowne Plaza and Hotel Amari will be displayed at the carnival.

Issuing a warning to hoarders, Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder on Sunday said those who are involved in hoarding goods illegally will not be spared by slapping fine only, rather they will be jailed if they are not corrected. “To bring the prices of rice at a tolerable level, the traders have to change their mindset of making more profit. Millers, retailers, wholesalers and corporates all are  responsible for the hike in rice price,” he said. Temperature drops to season’s lowest 5 degree Celsius in Panchagarh’s Tetulia The minister came up with the remarks while speaking at a view-exchange meeting with the public representatives and government officials concerned at deputy commissioner’s conference room in Naogaon at noon. He also said the government will soon introduce digital card for OMS products distribution to prevent taking goods by the same person frequently. Another Bangladeshi shot dead by BSF along Lalmonirhat border Referring to the "Production, Storage, Transfer, Transportation, Supply, Distribution and Marketing of Food Products (Prevention of Prejudicial Activity) Bill, 2023, Sadhan said already the bill was passed in parliament. “Stern action will be taken against the illegal hoarders through enforcement of the law.” Dinajpur, Panchagarh shivering in country's lowest temperatures today Besides, he also asked the director general of the Directorate General of Food over phone to issue an order to cancel the leave of all officials concerned during the anti-hoarding drive.

Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder on Monday warned that the government will take stern action against anyone found hoarding rice stocks. He told the corporate organizations that they should refrain from buying paddy by competing in the market. From a national tragedy to technological triumph: Sajeeb Wazed’s journey in Bangladesh’s transformation The minister was talking at a meeting with the representatives of six corporates of the country in his office at the Bangladesh Secretariat on Monday afternoon. The food minister said, "I had a meeting with the millers and they said that the corporates are competing and are buying paddy and stocking it." "They (millers) point the finger at you. We want to know the real facts," the minister added. Mild cold wave sweeps Rangpur, Rajshahi divs, some districts: Met Office He said that rice is available in the market under different brand names, on which the maximum retail price is written. "We also want the attachment of the millers' price. If so, retailers cannot raise prices suddenly or unreasonably," he mentioned. Food Secretary Ismail Hossain said that regular monitoring is being carried out to see if anyone is buying paddy or rice for illegal stockpiling. “If someone tries to store beyond the capacity, we will review the storage capacity if necessary.” Woman crossing the road dies after truck hits her in Dhaka’s Demra Representatives of City Group, Square, Pran RFL, Meghna Group, ACI and Akiz Essential participated in the meeting. At that time, they agreed to write the price of the millers on the sack and assured their full cooperation.

The government announced a zero tolerance policy against illegal hoarders, Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder said on Thursday. The minister was speaking at a virtual meeting with the administrative officials of eight divisions at the secretariat. At that time, he directed the administrative officials to take action according to the law if anyone is found stocking illegally without a licence. Even 12th parliamentary election is not beyond controversy: CEC "No one can run rice trading without a food grain licence," he said. The minister said that the government's priority is to keep the common people at ease by controlling the prices. "If we work unitedly and sincerely, commodity prices will come under control very soon," he hoped. Brick Kiln Tracker' to be used to detect polluting brick kilns: Minister He said that many squirrels have already been caught in various districts and upazilas of the country, including Dhaka. The food minister said that fines have been imposed during the drives and arrangements have been made to sell the rice quickly. He directed the divisional commissioners to continue the operation against the illegal hoarders. “If necessary, crash programmes should be taken up to make it successful,” he said. He, however, urged to take action carefully so that the ordinary farmers would not be harassed. Brick Kiln Tracker' to be used to detect polluting brick kilns: Minister Chaired by Food Secretary Md Ismail Hossain, the meeting was attended by Director General of the Directorate General of Food Md Shakhawat Hossain and divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners, superintendents of police and regional food controllers and district food controllers of the country.

Terming farmers as the heart of the country, Bangladesh's Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumdar on Tuesday (May 30, 2023) said that the aim of the government is to stand by the farmers. "Whether they cultivate mango or paddy, the interest of the farmers must be protected,” the minister said at the inauguration ceremony of mango harvesting and marketing in 2023 season in Sapahar's Godown Para area on Tuesday. The Food Minister said under the leadership of the Prime Minister, there has been a bumper yield of Boro, Aman paddy and mangoes as well and farmers are getting a fair price for paddy. "I hope they will also get a fair price for mangoes,” he added. Sadhan Chandra said now the supply of local fruits is quite good. “Dollars will be saved if fruits are not imported from abroad and the nutritional value of local fruits is also high.” Read more: Bumper yield of Boro paddy satisfies Madaripur farmers “There is an opportunity to export various fruits and we are exporting mangoes. As a result, mango farmers are benefiting. But the problem is that foreigners want to know whether the mangoes are safe or not. We cannot show them certificate.” He hoped that in future it will be possible to export more mangoes with certificate from the safe food directorate. Chaired by Sharmin Jahan, assistant commissioner (land) of Sapahar, Upazila Parishad Chairman Md. Shahjahan Hossain, Upazila Awami League President Md. Shamsul Alam Shah Chowdhury and agricultural worker Shapla Khatun were present  atthe programme. Later, the minister inaugurated the Fish Chattar in Jabai Beel and the Joy Bangla Chattar on the Upazila Parishad premises. Read more: Salinity-tolerant rice cultivation brings delight to Barguna farmers

The government has set a target to procure 4 lakh tonnes of paddy, 12.50 lakh tonnes of boiled rice and one lakh tonne wheat in the upcoming Boro season. The procurement of Boro paddy and rice will start from May 7 and continue till August 31, 2023. The procurement price of Boro paddy has been fixed at Tk 30 per kg, boiled rice at Tk 44 and wheat at Tk 35 per kg. In 2022, the price of paddy was Tk 27 per kg, boiled rice Tk 40 and wheat Tk 28. The price was fixed at a meeting of the Food Planning and Monitoring Committee (FPMC) at the cabinet meeting room on Thursday. Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder presided over the meeting, according to a press release of the food ministry. Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzaque, Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Md Tajul Islam, Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi and Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim attended the meeting. Secretaries to different ministries, including the cabinet secretary, were present in the meeting.

Food Minister Sadhan Chandar Majumder on Thursday the government is planning to provide over one crore families with 10 kg rice under Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) programme in the upcoming Ramadan. He said this while responding to a question from journalists at the secretariat. The country has achieved bumper Aman yield and the country won’t need to import rice once good yield of Boro paddy is achieved, said the minister . He said the government usually distributes rice to people during the Ramadan under rationing, Kabikha, TR and OMS programmes. Read: Govt will continue subsidies to ensure food security: Dr Razzaque " Rice and flour are distributed through 2500 dealers across the country on a regular basis,” he said, adding that the lower-income people can buy 5 kg rice at Tk 30 per kg and 3 kg flour at Tk 24 under OMS programme. He said over one crore families of the country get 5 kg rice and 3 kg flour each round the year and no one will fall in crisis for rice  in the Ramadan. 50 lakh families will be provided with 30 kg rice at Tk 15 per kg  from March 1 and people usually get  rice under the progamme five months—March, April, May, September and October a year.

Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder on Tuesday urged the farmers to increase the cultivation of zinc-enriched paddy for eliminating malnutrition in the country. It is possible to meet the zinc deficiency of people in the country through cultivating biofortified zinc rice, the minister said at the "Biofortified Zinc Rice Award Ceremony 2022" arranged by the Food Ministry in the capital’s Agargaon. Read more: Boost food production to avert any crisis: PM Hasina Most of the people in the country are not aware at all about the biofortified zinc rice or its quality, he said. “We are consuming zinc in chemical form but do not know that we can get this naturally through rice,” he added. So he urged the media to come forward to attract consumers to biofortified zinc rice. He also said that the mill owners of the country produce polished rice as per the demand of the consumers and supply those to market. “Because consumers are not keen to eat zinc rice as it is a bit coarse. Customers or consumers prefer polished rice.” Read more: 27 lakh farmers to get Tk 170 crore as incentives to boost Boro production And so farmers are also not interested in cultivating biofortified zinc rice, said the minister. “Normal rice also contains nutrients, but the nutrients are being reduced after being polished,” he added. He said about 16 lakh tonnes of rice are wasted annually during the polishing process. “There would have been no need to import rice if those had not been polished.” At the event, 11 farmers, three rice millers and 10 food department officials were awarded in recognition to their special contribution in the production, processing and marketing of biofortified zinc rice. Meanwhile, regarding food crisis and possible famine, the minister urged all not to panic and said, “We are aware that there are sufficient paddy and rice in stock.” Strict action will be taken against those who will  stockpile rice, Sadhan Chandra warned.

Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder on Thursday urged the people to stop eating polished rice and start eating nutrient-rich rice. The minister made the comment while speaking as Chief Guest at a programme titled “The Commercial Journey of Fortified Rice in Bangladesh.” “The government has decided to ensure nutrition in every food. Securing nutrition has been included in all the government’s policies, including 8th Five Year plan,” said Sadhan. He said that the country has achieved food sufficiency thanks to the invention of new varieties of rice by researchers. “There was a time when the country’s rice was nutritious. We’ve to think why this isn’t the case anymore. People are becoming malnourished through eating polished rice. Public awareness is a must to prevent the consumption of polished rice,” Sadhan added. Read: Govt to procure 3 lakh mts Aman paddy at Tk 28 per kg: Food Minister The minister further said that the government faces a shortage of 16-17 lakh tonnes of rice every year due to the polishing process. “Without the initiative and investment by rice traders and rice mill owners, making nutritious rice available to the consumers will be impossible. I urge the traders and the rice mill owners to keep the prices of nutritious rice within the purchasing capacity of the common people,” Sadhan said. Iron, Zinc, Vitamin A, Vitamin B1 and Folic Acid have been added to the nutritious rice. Five companies have taken the initiative to supply the rice to the markets of Dhaka, Chattogram, Khulna and Rajshahi. Among the places where nutritious rice has been marketed experimentally are Dhaka’s Mohammadpur Krishi Market, Karwan Bazar, Shwapno and Agora super shops and Chaldal and Matrix Bazar online shops. Read: ‘We lose 5MT nutrition-enriched rice when 100MT are polished’ says Food Minister The programme was presided over by Secretary of the Food Ministry Md Ismail Hossain. Md Atiur Rahman Atik, Member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Food Ministry, Md Shakhawat Hossain, Director General (DG) of the Food Directorate and Dom Scalpelli, Country Director of World Food Programme (WFP), among others, spoke as special guests.

The government has set a target to procure three lakh metric tonnes (mts) of Aman paddy and five lakh mts of boiled rice in the upcoming season. Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder revealed the matter to reporters after a meeting of the Food Planning and Monitoring Committee at the Secretariat. Read: Despite repeated warnings, Food Minister rules out any possibility of food crisis in Bangladesh The procurement price of Aman paddy has been fixed at Tk 28 per kg and boiled rice at Tk 42 per kg, he added.