'Include right to food in constitution'
Experts, academics and human rights activists at a discussion yesterday urged the government for taking steps to include the right to food as a fundamental right in the constitution to ensure food security for all.
They said as the right to food is not a constitutional right in the country, people cannot compel the government to provide them food.
There are at present many poor African countries providing food to their people as a fundamental right, they added.
ActionAid Bangladesh, a non-government organisation, organised the discussion titled "Right to food as a fundamental right" at CIRDAP auditorium in the city.
Addressing the discussion, eminent economist Prof Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad said the government should take measures to hand over khas land to the landless and ultra poor people, thereby utilise and achieve food security.
He emphasised on rearrange the existing market economy system as well as creating employment opportunities to remove poverty and attain food security.
Referring to the adverse affect of climate change, he said the public sector should come forward in facing the challenges.
Criticising the role of micro credit in eliminating poverty, the economist said, “Who says that poverty has gone to the museum, it should take place in the museum.”
Prof Kholiquzzaman stressed the need for taking integrated steps for creating employment opportunities and remove poverty.
“If we can not create employment opportunities, we cannot advance," he said.
About the country's population boom, he said it is the number one problem in achieving food security and if the growth of population cannot be controlled, the target of attaining food security would not be possible.
Apart from food security, Prof Kholiquzzaman called upon the government to take steps for ensuring water, power and housing security to citizens.
He also stressed the need for announcing a law for agriculture labours and farmers.
Teacher of Dhaka University Prof Asif Nazrul said the right to food, clothing, accommodation and employment must be considered as the fundamental right in constitution so that people can ask questions about the government's role.
“Now, people have no constitutional right to food. If millions of people die due to a lack of food, they could not raise their voices against the government for supplying food,” he said.
Chaired by Actionaid Country Director Farah Kabir, the discussion was addressed, among others, by Rasheda K Chowdhury, Rokeya Kabir and Asraf Kaysar.
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