Speakers at a discussion urged the government to formulate a food security law and suggested reducing the price of OMS rice from Tk 30 to 15.
They also urged the government to take immediate steps for bringing down the prices of essentials including rice, flour, pulses and oil.
The speakers came up with the recommendations at a discussion on Monday organised by Right to Food Bangladesh at the Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka marking the World Food Day, reports UNB.
Chairman of Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) and Right to Food Bangladesh Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad said the country is not being freed from poverty for the activities of some corrupt and dishonest people.
“Another reason is the culture of impunity. In most cases, the corrupt people aren’t brought under law in our country which inspires others commit the same crime,” he said urging the government to bring the corrupt people to justice.
Putting emphasis on nutrition, the PKSF chairman said people have to be more conscious about nutrition.
Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Food Ministry Abdul Wadud said some dishonest businesspeople are responsible for the recent price hike of rice.
He said the rice prices have started coming down and there is a reserve of of 400,000 mts of rice in the country right now.
Right to Food Bangladesh general secretary and also Wave Foundation executive director Mohsin Ali, among others, spoke at the programme.
Their other recommendations include providing financial assistance to the farmers affected by recent floods, proper implementation of all social safety initiatives, starting social safety programmes for the urban poor and ensuring food for all to make a hunger-free country.
This year’s theme of the World Food day is ‘Change the future of migration, invest in food security and rural development’.
