Bangladesh Drafts New Rules to Improve Transparency in OMS Dealer Appointments
Bangladesh’s Ministry of Food is drafting a new policy for appointing dealers under the Open Market Sale (OMS) and Food-Friendly programs, the ministry told a parliamentary committee Thursday.
A Parliament Secretariat news release issued after a meeting of the parliamentary standing committee on the Ministry of Food said members expressed hope that the new policy would make dealer appointments more transparent.
The committee also discussed staffing shortages at the ministry. Officials reported 6,653 vacant posts, according to the release. The committee recommended ending recruitment through outsourcing and filling the vacancies promptly through regular recruitment.
The meeting also addressed the loss of agricultural land due to unplanned urbanization. The ministry said it was monitoring agricultural land use to protect farmland and prevent unauthorized conversion to nonagricultural purposes.
Food adulteration was another topic of discussion. State Minister for Food Md. Abdul Bari said the government was taking the issue seriously and working to strengthen oversight at every stage of food production, processing and marketing, as well as address gaps in existing laws and regulations.
Committee Chairman Abdus Salam Pintu said ensuring access to safe, adulteration-free food was a public responsibility, describing food as a fundamental right.
Pintu chaired the meeting at the Parliament building. Food Minister Afrozа Khanam and committee members Abul Kalam, Abu Taleb Mondal, Abdul Karim and Shamsunnahar Begum also attended.
