DHAKA: Speakers at a meeting on Monday said that while stating national and regional surveys on food adulteration and food safety should be carried out and a series of programs should be taken to focus on the negative effect of formalin on public health.

The meeting was held at a ceremony of signing memorandum of understanding (MoU) at the CIRDAP auditorium in the city.

Two MoUs were signed at the ceremony.

The first one was among Directorate of Fisheries (DoF), Bangladesh Shrimp and Fish Foundation (BSFF) and Rotary Int`l Dist 3281 Bangladesh and Rotary Int`l Dist 3282 Bangladesh.

DoF Director General Syed Arif Azad, BSFF Chairman Syed Mahmudul Haq and Rotarian Ghulam Mustafa, district governor (Int`l dist 3281), signed the MoU on behalf of their respective organisations.

The second MoU was signed between BSFF and ATN Times. BSFF Chairman Syed Mahmudul Haq and ATN Times Director Jaya Ahsan signed the MoU on behalf of their respective organizations.

Both of the MoUs were signed to launch a social movement to combat threats to food safety.

Robaet Ferdous, Associate Professor, University of Dhaka discussed the role of media in waging a social movement for combating threats to food safety saying, "Media should play an active role in unveiling the food safety and the reality of the impact of food adulteration. It can draw attention of the policy makers, set agenda to create public awareness."

"Investigative and follow-up reports can detail on the activities on the masterminds responsible for this offence. TV talk shows with the experts can play a significant role in educating people relating to the harmful effects of food adulteration," he also said.

"A comprehensive media advocacy plan is an integral part to put forward an effective movement to create awareness among the people, policy makers and civil society," Robaet Ferdous added.

Syed Mahmudul Haque said, "The purposes of the social movement that we are trying to build up under these MoUs would, therefore, firstly try to mobilize the society to bring in pressure on the government, to legislate appropriate standards and testing protocols for all food items together with an affective enforcement mechanism."

He also said, "At the same time we must also bring in pressure on the supply chain stakeholders to comply with all standards."

BDST: 1743 HRS, SEP 04, 2013
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