Cancer cases rising in country
BSS
A health expert yesterday said the number of countrys cancer patients is now estimated to be ranging between 2.5 lakh and 3 lakh and it is alarmingly rising due to consumption of adulated food, reports BSS. The alarming scenario of cancer cases was focused on at a roundtable on Toxic free street food during the holy Ramzadan arranged by the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), countrys apex trade body, in its conference room in the capital yesterday.
Consumption of adulterated food items like chickpeas (chola), Piazu and Beguni fried in toxic oil and food contaminated with formalin and textile colours available at the open place during Ramadan are one of the major causes of the soaring number of cancer patients in the country, said Dr Tamanna Chowdhury, principal, nutrition division of a private city hospital at the roundtable.
Regular consumption of colourful food items prepared from bason (lentil powder) fried in toxic oil and mobile in unhygienic environment, food items using saccharin and testing salts, puffed rice (muri) contaminated with chemical sodium and hydrosulfide in Ramadan are one the major causes for rising cancer, kidney and liver diseases among the people, Dr Tamanna said in a her keynote paper.
The increasing consumption of khesari dal due to its lower price compared to other lentil varieties during the Ramadan, which is randomly used for preparing iftari items like Piazu, Beguni, are responsible for creating lathyrism and paralysis, she said, adding that the Indian Council for Medical Research has already banned the cultivation of the lentil variety.
With Acting FBCCI President Mrs Hasina Newaaz in the chair, the roundtable was also addressed
by Food Minister Advocate Qamrul Islam as the chief guest.
Prime Ministers Information Advisor Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury and Senior Commerce Secretary Hedayetullah Al Mamun spoke as the special guests while former FBCCI president Helal Uddin moderated the function.
