Staff Correspondent

Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter today said one of the main tasks of the interim government is extending financial supports to the families of July-August martyrs and providing full medical treatment to the injured.

"The interim government was formed on the basis of the student-people movement. Giving financial supports to the family members of the martyrs and ensuring complete treatment to the injured are one of the major tasks of the interim government. Many of the students and people are still in hospitals in critical conditions. Many general people alongside the students were killed (in the movement)," she said.

She made the remarks while addressing a national technological seminar of food security marking the World Egg Day-2024 and World Food Day-2024 organised by Bangladesh Society for Safe Food at Syed Nazrul Islam Conference Hall of the Bangladesh Agriculture University in Mymensingh district.

The adviser said the issue of food security is currently being discussed prominently while the issue of food production was the centre of discussion during the 60s and 70s.

"The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has later started discussing about the food security alongside the food production," she added.

Farida alerted all concerned about the huge loss incurred from the use of insecticides in the paddy fields.

The adviser stressed the need for making safe the feeds, saying, "Our bodies will not be safe if the feeds (of the livestock) contains antibiotic. It "is now time" to take safe food."

Taking part in the seminar, the speakers called upon all concerned to take effective measures to ensure the food safety, saying, "It is necessary to ensure awareness at every level from food production to the dining table to ensure food safety."

They said if everyone becomes aware about the food safety Bangladesh can go ahead to build a meritorious and talented nation.

The adviser unveiled the cover of a publication titled "Safe Food Digest" at the seminar, said a press release of Fisheries and Livestock Ministry.

Teachers of various universities, researchers, scientists and government and non-government officers were present at the seminar.

The adviser later in the afternoon exchanged views with the officials of Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI) in Mymensingh district.

In the meeting, she called upon the scientists to conduct more researches to save the almost extinct local species of fish by preserving those through live zinc banks.

The adviser planted a sapling on the BFRI premises.