Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today directed the authorities concerned to curb food adulteration in Bangladesh, alongside creating awareness among businesspeople against such offences.

"You'll have to make them [unscrupulous businesspeople] understand the offenses and curb it [offences] with an iron hand. It's essential to take both measures simultaneously," she said.

The prime minister said this while addressing a programme held at InterContinental Dhaka, marking National Food Safety Day-2021. She joined the event virtually from her official residence Gono Bhaban.

This year, the day is being observed with the theme ''Tekshoi Unnayan -- Shomriddho Desh, Nirapod Khadyer Bangladesh".

Sheikh Hasina said unscrupulous businesspeople sell adulterated or substandard food items to earn extra money, harming public health. "They should realise that they can make the same profit by selling safe food," she said.

Mentioning that a central food testing laboratory is being set up in the country, the premier instructed the relevant authorities to take steps for setting up one food testing laboratory in every divisional city as well.

Laboratory testing certification is essential to export agricultural products -- most important for exporting food items -- the prime minister said, adding that there is a scope of setting up food-testing systems at the rural level.

Referring to the safe food plan being implemented in 100 food-related industries, Hasina asked the authorities concerned to execute it throughout the country gradually. "It'll have to be taken up to the village level," she said.