Bill placed in JS to prevent manipulation in food supply chain

Production, storage, movement, transportation, supply, distribution, and marketing of food grains (Prevention of Prejudicial Activity) Bill, 2023 was placed in the Jatiya Sangsad. 

Aiming at ensuring food safety and providing punishment for offenses in any stage of the food supply chain, Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder on Thursday placed the bill in the House with Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair. 

"If anyone commits an offense under the proposed law, the person would be awarded a maximum five-year jail or the highest Tk 1.0 million as a fine," according to the draft of the law. 

The proposed law was brought by merging two existing laws -- Foodgrains Supply (Prevention of Prejudicial Activity) Ordinance, 1979 and the Food (Special Courts) Act, 1956 with a view to ensuring quality food items. 

Tougher punishment has been proposed in the draft law to prevent offenses and misleading information in the stages of production, storage, movement, transportation, supply, distribution and marketing of food grains, said the food minister while placing the proposed act. 

The Food Minister urged the House to send the bill to the concerned parliamentary standing committee to provide a report within five days.

/MHK/