The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a discussion meeting yesterday called upon the people to bring changes in their food habit in view of the price hike of essentials and refrain their children from eating junk food.

Addressing the meeting on "Junk Food Generation: CI's Campaign to Stop Marketing of Unhealthy Food to Children," they strongly criticised the government for its dilly-dallying tactics to announce the Consumers' Rights Protection Ordinance.

The speakers emphasised the need for launching vigorous movement to protect the consumers' rights by involving stakeholders.

The meeting, organised by Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) to mark the World Consumers Day, was held at CIRDAP Auditorium with its President Borhan Ahmed, Executive Editor of the Janakantha, a vernacular daily, in the chair.

Former minister Chowdhury Kamal Ibne Yusuf, National Professor Dr Nurul Islam, Prof Dr Shamsher Ali, Principal Hamida Ali and CAB General Secretary Quazi Faruque, among others, addressed the meeting. Public health expert Dr AM Zakir Hossain presented keynote paper while Barrister Turin Afroj moderated the function.

Chowdhury Kamal Ibne Yusuf said junk food is a global problem and children of Bangladesh are victims of this food.

He regretted that crores of taka is being spent in advertisement of junk food, which is harmful for children's health.

Prof Nurul Islam stressed the need for brining change in the food habit saying that more the food is delicious the more it harmful.

"We have to change our food habit and make people conscious about their rights," he said.

He observed that there is no problem with not eating meat.

Prof Shamsher Ali emphasised the need for motivating people to be habituated to eating local food.

He regretted that consumers are being deceived in various ways, as in weight and quality of product.

Borhan Ahmed said though the initiative to enact the consumers' rights protection act was taken in early 90s but it was mysteriously ignored year after year.