Staff Correspondent, Dhaka:
Bangladesh is seeking technical assistance from the United States to strengthen food safety, improve the quality testing of imported grains, and address long-term storage challenges, highlighting the importance of technology and expertise in securing the country’s food supply.
Food Minister Afroza Khanam raised the issues during a courtesy meeting with US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T Christensen at the Secretariat on Sunday.
The minister sought US technical expertise to enhance Bangladesh’s capacity to test imported rice and wheat, particularly at Chattogram and Mongla ports. Stronger testing facilities could help improve quality control at key entry points and support more effective monitoring of imported food grains.
She also highlighted the difficulties of preserving rice and wheat over extended periods because of Bangladesh’s climatic conditions. The discussions covered the potential use of US technology and expertise to improve grain preservation techniques and storage management.
The request reflects a broader challenge for Bangladesh: ensuring that food security measures extend beyond procuring sufficient supplies to maintaining grain quality, minimizing storage losses, and strengthening inspection systems.
The US ambassador welcomed the minister’s initiatives and said the possibility of technical assistance from American experts would be considered. However, no specific assistance package or implementation timeline was announced.
The two sides also discussed wheat imports from the United States and expressed satisfaction that deliveries under the existing agreement were being completed within the stipulated timeframe without difficulties.
The minister shared her recent experience of visiting a vessel carrying imported US wheat at Chattogram port’s outer anchorage.
US Agriculture Attaché Erin Covert, Food Secretary Abu Taher Md Masud Rana, and senior officials attended the meeting.
The proposed cooperation could help strengthen Bangladesh’s food management capacity, depending on the technical support provided and its effective implementation.
