Formulate food policy to ensure quality

They also demanded proper implementation of policies to ensure quality food in restaurants and food shops.

Bangladesh Khadya Babshayee Parishad (BKBP), a platform of six food manufacturing and selling organisations, organised the press conference at National Press Club in the city yesterday to press their demands.

Their demands also include uninterrupted power supply, treating food industry as cottage industry, removing all types of complexities to get BSTI certificates and setting up training institutes for the staffs working in restaurants and food shops.

They said the government should consult the business leaders in food sector before making any move to upgrade the conditions of the bakeries, restaurants and food shops.

Seeking time from the government, Md Jalal Uddin, joint convener of the parishad, said, "We are used to traditional method of manufacturing food for years and it is not possible to achieve European standard overnight. The government should give us enough time to improve".

Expressing resentment about power outage, the leaders said their production is being hampered due to frequent power outages that often make their food and food making materials rotten.

They also alleged that most of the Anti-Adulteration Drives do not include any expert and they usually impose a huge fine before chemically testing the food.

Sometimes, they charge a huge fine for minor offence, they added.

If the government does not pay heed to their demands in 15 days, they will light candles on Shaheed Minar premises on May 25, they threatened.

They will hold a rally in the city in June to press the government for their demands.

Khondakar Ruhul Amin, convener of BKBP, read out a written statement while parishad leaders Swapan Kumar Ghosh, Kamal Uddin Khokon and Shauddin Ahmed were also present at the press conference.