Speakers at an event have said that Dr Selina Hayat Ivy, mayor of Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC); continues to work relentlessly for the development of Narayanganj city.
Alongside the other sectors, the NCC Mayor along with ward councilors and others is working relentlessly to meet the demand for safe food and save the health of the city dwellers.
The event was arranged on Friday (September 16) to inaugurate second farmers’ market in the NCC area. The area-based weekly farmers’ market was established in order to ensure safe food supply for the city dwellers.
The makeshift market was launched at Khanpur of Don Chamber area next to the councilor’s office of Ward No. 12 of Narayanganj City Corporation.
The farmers’ market was launched under the ‘Dhaka Food System Project’ of Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations (FAO). Work for a Better Bangladesh (WBB) Trust is implementing the project with the support of the Embassy of the Netherlands.
The Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) and the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) expanded their support in establishing two farmers’ markets in the NCC area.
The first weekly farmers’ market in Narayanganj city was set up in Ward No. 15 area of the NCC. Mayor of the city corporation Dr Selina Hayat Ivy inaugurated the first farmers’ market on September 2.
Shawkat Hashem Shaku, councilor of NCC’s Ward No. 12; inaugurated the second farmers’ market in Narayanganj.
Gaous Pearee, director at WBB Trust; delivered the welcome speech in the inaugural ceremony of the weekly farmers’ market, while Ziaur Rahman, senior project manager of the WBB Trust; moderated the event.
It was addressed, among others, by Minwara Begum, NCC’s councilor from reserved seat for women; KM Faridul Miraj, chief social welfare and slum development officer of NCC; Javie Bowan, senior technical advisor of Dhaka Food System Project; Farzana Yeasmin of FAO; and Rupali Khatun, district safe food officer of Bangladesh Safe Food Authority in Narayanganj.
Inaugurating the weekly makeshift marketplace, Shawkat Hashem Shaku said, “We are working for the development of Narayanganj under the leadership of Dr Selina Hayat Ivy. This market is being organized under her guidance. All farmers coming to the farmers’ market will be selected and regularly monitored by DAE to ensure product quality.”
In her speech, Minwara Begum said that currently the market is full of toxic and unsafe food. “The farmers’ market is a relief for us. My appeal to the farmers, you will bring the products according to the demand of the local people. Then both consumers and farmers will benefit,” she added.
KM Faridul Miraj said that the NCC is working tirelessly to ensure the availability of safe food. “In continuation of this, we are working on various issues such as hotel food quality improvement, roof garden, urban agriculture, farmers’ market. It should be ensured that urban dwellers can get safe food easily and cheaply through farmer's markets. Ensure safe food, proper waste management, regular monitoring etc,” he said.
Javie Bowan said, “This is the second farmers’ market in Narayanganj. Through farmers' market activities, we are trying to deliver safe and healthy food to urban dwellers. We hope this market will play a vital role in ensuring the benefit of both farmers and consumers.”
