In Bangladesh, street food is widely consumed in urban areas, although evidence suggests it is often contaminated due to poor hygienic practices. As the street food vendors play an important socio-economic role, and meet basic food needs of predominantly low-income urban consumers, work with them to improve the safety of street foods is an effective approach in improving public health.

Addressing this emerging issue, the Dutch funded FAO project on ‘Improving Food Safety in Bangladesh’ is piloting an initiative in Dhaka City in partnership with both the Dhaka South and North City Corporations (DSCC and DNCC). Through this enterprise, 180 hygienic street food carts have been previously distributed to the vendors in the DSCC area. On May 5, 2016, this initiative was inaugurated in the DNCC area by distribution of 82 street food carts to beneficiaries.

Mr. David Doolan, Deputy FAO Representative in Bangladesh handed over the carts to Mr Anisul Huq, Mayor, Dhaka North City Corporations at a ceremony held in Mirpur. All the vendors were provided training in ‘Good Hygiene Practices and the preparation and serving of street food in the cleanest possible way’ by the FAO project team.

Around 200 participants attended the ceremony and the gathering included civic officials and elected councilors.

In his remarks, Mr Doolan stressed the role of the trained vendors in implementing good practices, and that of the DNCC in monitoring vendor performance. He also said that the consumer’s insistence on cleanliness and hygiene are equally important. FAO’s emphasis is on strengthening institutions - working with civic authorities to develop monitoring systems for street foods and encouraging behavioral change. The carts were then handed over by Mr. Doolan to the Mayor who then symbolically handed over the registration papers and carts to 2 vendors.

Mr Anisul Haque, Mayor, DSCC declared that food safety has always been a priority area for his administration and the DNCC is always committed to extending strong support and promoting such initiatives. He thanked the FAO and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands for their technical and financial support, and making it a success.

Brigadier General Saleh Bhuiyan, Chief Health Officer, DNCC, Sridhar Dharmapuri, Food Safety Officer, FAO were also present among other guests.