Food programme benefits must reach genuine beneficiaries

Photo : Collected

Food Minister Afroza Khanam has stressed transparency and accountability in food management to ensure government food programmes benefit genuine recipients.

She made the remarks at a meeting with senior officials of the Food Ministry and its agencies at the ministry’s conference room on Sunday.

Officials briefed the newly appointed minister on the ministry’s overall activities, ongoing programmes, foodgrain procurement, storage and supply management, government food distribution and future plans.

Khanam said the Food Ministry has an important role in ensuring the country’s food security and called for government food programmes to be implemented more effectively, transparently and in a people-friendly manner.

She stressed the need for visible improvements in the ministry’s activities, urging officials and employees to perform their duties with sincerity, efficiency and dedication while giving priority to public needs and expectations.

The minister also called for efficiency and discipline at every stage of foodgrain procurement, storage, transportation and distribution.

She thanked Prime Minister Tarek Rahman for his confidence in appointing her to the ministry and called on officials to work in a coordinated manner to implement the government’s vision and commitments.

“We all want to bring positive and visible changes to the activities of the Food Ministry. Transparency, accountability, efficiency and service quality must be improved further for public welfare,” she said.

State Minister for Food Md Abdul Bari, Food Secretary Abu Taher Md Masud Rana, Director General of the Directorate General of Food and senior officials of the ministry, the Directorate General of Food and the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority attended the meeting.