Sorry state of BFSA
We are deeply disturbed by a report published in this paper on Saturday, according to which Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) remains a regulator on paper only, as requisite manpower has not been made available for it to carry out its task. It has been left heavily understaffed to the extent that its daily activities are severely hampered. It beggars rationale that the body, which was mandated by the Safe Food Act 2013 to combat the menace of food adulteration, has been reduced to an 11-man army, whereas its organogram requires it to be 1,004 and the authorities have agreed to sanction a 422-strong manpower! This huge gulf has adversely affected the functioning of the BFSA at a time when food adulteration has grown into a social disease.
While the situation on the ground remains distressing, it is natural that mice will play while the cat is away. Only last year, the National Food Safety Laboratory found that nine out of 15 foods tested contained dangerous levels of harmful chemicals. And that too ranged from rice, fish and vegetables to fruits containing deleterious adulterants which we are forced to consume every day. Its worst victims are children, who are deprived of the nutrients necessary for their proper physical and mental growth, resulting in stunted development with long term consequences.
We find it incumbent to bring to the notice of the authorities that we are fighting an increasingly uphill battle against contamination of the food chain and it is essential that the BSFA is empowered with the necessary resources to effectively play its role. Also, the body should be armed with the required laboratory facilities to test foodstuff and adequate legal apparatus to punish the culprits.
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