Create separate law to protect food right

Rights activists on Wednesday urged the government to formulate separate law to protect food rights of all citizens, especially the poor and underprivileged section.

They also called upon all the political parties to make a commitment in the election manifestos to formulate and implement the act, which they called Right to Food Act, says a press release.

The speakers were addressing the inaugural ceremony of a campaign titled “Right to Food and Nutrition Campaign”. Right to Food Bangladesh, a platform of rights organisations, organised at national museum in Dhaka's Shahbagh.

Throughout the campaign, conventions, view exchange meetings, dialogues with mass people and political parties will be held across the country from July to December this year, said the release.

Besides, the platform has set a goal to collect signatures of around 25 lakh people in favour of the act as part of the campaign. Contained with the signatures, a memorandum will be submitted to the prime minister, it also said.

At the ceremony, Right to Food Bangladesh Chairman Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad said the act is very much necessary for people particularly the people underprivileged and lagged behind.

The platform's Vice Chairman Khondkar Ibrahim Khaled said the act will aware people of their food rights and help them raise voice in this regard.

National Human Rights Commission Chairman Kazi Reazul Hoque, noted academic Rasheda K Chowdhury, Daily Ittefaq Editor Tasmima Hossain, ActionAid Country Director Farah Kabir and Right to Food Bangladesh Executive Director Mohsin Ali, among others, spoke at the programme.