Environmental activists at a discussion here yesterday demanded that the government take effective steps to ensure the supply of safe seasonal fruits to the consumers, reports UNB. They said seasonal fruits like mango, jackfruit, litchi, blackberry and pineapple will be available from local May next, but the past experiences show that different chemicals was used in the at production and marketing of these fruits rampantly, putting public health at risk.
Poribesh Bachao Andolon (Poba), a voluntary environmental organisation, arranged the discussion at its Dhan-mandi office in the capital. Chaired by former chairman of Bangladesh Public Service Commission (BPSC) Ekram Ahmed, the discussion was addressed, among others, by Poba chairman Abu Naser Khan, former chairman of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) Dr Khalequzzaman Akand Chow-dhury, Prof Dr Nazrul Islam of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University and former director of Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR) Dr Farmazul Haque. Poba joint general secretary Lenin Chowdhury read out a keynote paper at the discussion.