Millers for Nutrition, powered by TechnoServe, hosted a workshop titled “Technology and Benefits of Introducing Fortified Wheat Flour in the Commercial Market” at Lakeshore Heights, Gulshan, Dhaka, on May 17, 2026, bringing together government, development partners and industry participants.
The workshop aimed to raise awareness of the role of fortified wheat flour in addressing persistent micronutrient deficiencies, particularly Vitamin A, Vitamin B Complex, Iron and Zinc, which remain a pressing public health issue in Bangladesh, especially among women and children.
In the opening remarks, Md Guljer Ahmmed, country program manager at TechnoServe, underscored the need for collaborative action to expand wheat flour fortification in Bangladesh.
The event was attended by several distinguished guests, including chief guest Prof Dr Mohammad Shoeb, member of Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA), who said: “Fortified wheat flour not only ensures nutrition but also serves as a sustainable public health strategy.” He added, “The time has come for its commercial expansion, as people have become significantly more health-conscious.”
Md S M Abu Sayed, deputy director (CM) of Bangladesh Standards & Testing Institution (BSTI), Md Afif-Al-Mahmud Bhuiyan, deputy director (SDM) of DG Food, and Mir Shakrul Alam Simanto, senior vice president of Flour Mill Owners’ Association of Bangladesh, participated as special guests. Md Zahirul Islam Khan, director (SDM) of DG Food, chaired the event.
The keynote presentation by Md Nayem Zobayer, senior food fortification specialist at TechnoServe, focused on the technological innovations and economic viability of wheat flour fortification. He highlighted it as a scalable, cost-effective and sustainable solution to micronutrient deficiencies.
An open discussion with flour millers, food industry leaders and private sector stakeholders drew support for fortification efforts. Md Moin Uddin Masud, secretary, and Mir Shakrul Alam Simanto expressed optimism that the Government of Bangladesh will soon initiate flour fortification across the OMS program in the country.
Strategic fortification partners Hexagon Nutrition and Buhler, along with World Food Program (WFP), Nutrition International (NI) and Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), also reaffirmed their commitment to supporting food fortification initiatives in Bangladesh. The workshop concluded with remarks from Md Zahirul Islam Khan, who reiterated the collective commitment to scaling up sustainable and inclusive food fortification efforts.