The Ministry of Food should be renamed as Paddy and Rice Ministry as this entity’s only work is to procure paddy, wheat and rice, the chairman of the parliamentary standing committee said about the ministry.
Abdul Wadud, the chairman of the 10-member watchdog who was tasked to ensure the transparency and accountability of the ministry, said the ministry had very little role in ensuring safe food for people.
“People think that the food ministry is in charge of ensuring safe food for them, but actually all this ministry does is focus on procuring paddy, wheat and rice.
“Food is a comprehensive word that includes all sorts of edible stuff including the health aspect,” Abdul Wadud told the Dhaka Tribune after the meeting at the parliament building yesterday.
He said people question him about whether the food ministry can stop use of formalin and other injurious substances.
“Formalin import is under the jurisdiction of the commerce ministry while the industries ministry takes actions for the misuse of formalin,” said Wadud, suggesting that the government should give more mandates to the ministry to ensure food safety issues.
In 2012, the Awami League government split the erstwhile the ministry of food and disaster management ministry into two entities – food ministry and disaster management ministry.
Food Minister Quamrul Islam also attended the meeting.
