Improve nutritional quality in food programs for marginalized communities

A roundtable discussion titled "Improving the Nutritional Quality of Community-Managed Cooked Food Distribution Programs for Marginalized Communities: Existing Challenges and the Role of Stakeholders" was held on Saturday (July 11, 2026) at the Reporters Unity on Topkhana Road in Segunbagicha, Dhaka. Popular online news portal Bangla FM served as the event's media partner.

The program officially began at 11:00 a.m. with a welcome address and introductory remarks by Abdur Rahman, Executive Director of Ashar Alo.

The keynote project presentation was delivered by Md. Shahjahan Matubbar, Technical Advisor (Food System and Nutrition) at Ashar Alo Society. He highlighted various aspects of ensuring the nutritional quality of food programs for marginalized communities and discussed the key challenges involved.

Mohammad Jamal Uddin, Director (Finance) of Bidyanondo Foundation, shared field-level experiences and operational insights. During his presentation, he noted that since 2018, Bidyanondo Foundation has been working under the slogan "Good Food that Brings People Together", playing a significant role in ensuring safe and nutritious food for vulnerable and disadvantaged communities.

The event then moved to an open discussion session, where invited guests and representatives from various organizations exchanged their views and recommendations.

Dr. Ali Abbas Mohammad Khorshed, Associate Professor at the Institute of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Dhaka, provided a scientific explanation of nutritional requirements. He emphasized that nutrition varies according to age and gender and said:

"We need to be mindful of differences in nutritional requirements across different age groups and genders. Since this initiative has already begun, we hope its quality will continue to improve over time."

Saiful Alam Mallik, Compliance Manager (South Asia) at Auchan Retail, highlighted the importance of food quality control and compliance. He said that although Bidyanondo Foundation initially focused on improving the nutritional quality of meals for 600 beneficiaries under the project, the organization is now prioritizing the same nutritional standards in the cooked meals it distributes annually to nearly 2 million people.

The chief guest was Md. Shah Jahan, Deputy Director of the Department of Social Services. Stressing the importance of coordinated efforts between government and private organizations to improve nutrition among marginalized communities, he said:

"The question is, how many people can we continue to feed? Our goal should be to help people earn enough to provide food for themselves. We appreciate your efforts in distributing food. At the same time, I urge you to explore ways to give these children a better future by creating opportunities for work so they can become self-reliant."

Among those present at the event were S. M. Akash, Head of News at Deepto TV, Gazi Anwerul Haque, former Vice-President of Dhaka Reporter Unity (DRU), along with representatives from various organizations, media professionals, and individuals associated with the project.

The event concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Rashed Manik, Editor of Bangla FM. In his closing remarks, he said:

"If all of us come forward like Bidyanondo and Ocean Foundation, we can help ensure food for those who struggle every day to meet their basic needs. Everyone should play their respective role from their own position."

The speakers unanimously agreed that, alongside addressing hunger among disadvantaged and marginalized people, it is equally important to ensure that they receive nutritionally balanced meals. They stressed that achieving this goal requires coordinated efforts from all relevant stakeholders.

At the end of the event, Ashar Bidyanondo Foundation, Ashar Alo Society, and Bangla FM were presented with special commemorative awards in recognition of their contributions.