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MP Ratan prioritises food safety over profit-making
The welcome address was delivered by Mahbuba Rahman, project coordinator of Dhaka Ahsania Mission
Daily Sun Report, Dhaka
Published: 07 Jun 2026, 07:11 PM
Photo: Courtesy
Member of Parliament from Munshiganj-3 Kamruzzaman Ratan has called on food producers to prioritise public health and social responsibility rather than focusing solely on profit.
He said that individuals involved in food production
and marketing should realize that their own family members consume the same
food products.
Such awareness, he noted, would make the production
of safe food and the implementation of Front-of-Pack Labelling (FOPL) much
easier, adding that he would raise the issue in the National Parliament, said a
press release.
He made these remarks as the chief guest at a
seminar titled “The Importance of Front-of-Pack Labelling for Protecting Public
Health,” organised by Dhaka Ahsania Mission at its Dhanmondi office in the
capital on Sunday, marking World Food Safety Day 2026.
The seminar was chaired by Prof Dr Golam Rahman, president
of Dhaka Ahsania Mission. He emphasised that the implementation of
Front-of-Pack Labelling is essential for achieving the Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs) and ensuring a healthy and safe future for coming generations.
The keynote paper was presented by Iqbal Masud, director
of the Health Sector at Dhaka Ahsania Mission. He stated that food is not
merely a means of survival; it is a key determinant of good health, economic
stability, and sustainable development. Currently, non-communicable diseases
(NCDs), including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and hypertension, account
for nearly 71% of all deaths in Bangladesh.
Changing lifestyles and the increasing consumption
of ultra-processed and packaged foods are further intensifying this crisis. To
address the situation, he called for the swift finalisation and implementation
of regulations requiring easy-to-understand warning labels on the front of
packages of ultra-processed and packaged food products.
Special guests at the seminar included Muhammad
Ruhul Quddus, country lead for Bangladesh at Global Health Advocacy Incubator,
and Prof Mohammad Shoaeb, member (food industry and production) of the Bangladesh
Food Safety Authority.
The welcome address was delivered by Mahbuba Rahman,
project coordinator of Dhaka Ahsania Mission, while the vote of thanks was
given by Dr SM Khalilur Rahman, vice president of the organisation.
Other speakers at the event noted that Front-of-Pack Labelling has already been introduced in more than 44 countries worldwide and has not proven harmful to business. They stressed the need to ensure that multinational companies maintain the same standards in Bangladesh as they do in developed countries.