Food grains stock hit all-time high; tough action against food adulteration: State Minister

State Minister for Food Md. Abdul Bari today (9 July) said the country's public food grain stock has reached an all-time high of over 22.90 lakh metric tons, while assuring the House of stringent action against irregularities in food storage and food adulteration.

Replying to a supplementary question from opposition (Jamaat-e-Islami) lawmaker Md Golam Rasul of Jashore-4 in the Jatiya Sangsad (JS), he said government warehouses currently hold 18,29,387 metric tons of rice, 3,28,495 metric tons of wheat and 2,03,664 metric tons of paddy, which together are equivalent to 22,90,277 metric tons of food grains in rice terms.

"This is the highest food grain stock in the country's history. Our farmers are producing and supplying adequate quantities of paddy and rice," he told the House.

Responding to allegations of irregularities in food storage, the state minister said he would personally investigate the matter and ensure legal action against anyone found responsible.

He said disciplinary measures had already been taken against officials over negligence in food storage, including the dismissal of one official and punitive action against five others.

Answering to another supplementary question from opposition (Jamaat-e-Islami)  reserved-seat member Sabikunnahar, Abdul Bari said food adulteration remains a serious public health concern, contributing to diseases such as cancer and kidney ailments, and that the prime minister has attached the highest importance to addressing the issue.

He said the prime minister has recently chaired a nearly three-hour meeting with magistrates conducting mobile courts, senior officials and ministers concerned to make the anti-adulteration drive more effective.

The state minister said a committee has also been formed to recommend measures for strengthening the nationwide campaign against food adulteration.

The committee had already held its first meeting and decided to intensify mobile court operations, strengthen market surveillance and develop a coordinated enforcement mechanism, he said.

According to him, a unified framework will be established involving the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI), the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection, the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority and other relevant agencies.

Md. Abdul Bari said the government would take all necessary steps, in line with the prime minister's directives, to ensure safe and adulteration-free food for consumers.

He expressed optimism that, through transparency, accountability and coordinated enforcement, the government would achieve the same level of success in combating food adulteration as it has in other sectors.