TDS Desk:

Adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Ministry of Water Resources Syeda Rizwana Hasan has stated that the dignity of farmers and fishermen involved in food production and preserving food heritage must be ensured.

She made these remarks as the chief guest at an event titled “Uniting Asia Through Food, Tourism, Trade and Culture,” held at a hotel in Gulshan, Dhaka, on Wednesday as part of the Taste Asia Festival Roadshow.

The environment adviser went on to add that food should not be confined solely to corporate interests, saying that food is an integral part of our life, celebrating both the producers and the culture, which is continuously evolving.

Emphasising the importance of cultural and traditional exchange among Asian countries, she said that food is not just a means of entertainment; it strengthens heritage and regional bonds.

In today’s era of globalisation, Indonesian, Filipino, Malaysian, and Chinese cuisines are gaining popularity worldwide. Bangladeshi food also has immense potential to spread across the global market and build its own brand identity, she said.

Syeda Rizwana Hasan called for celebrating the diversity of Asia’s multidimensional culinary arts, stating, “Food connects people, creates spaces for dialogue, and strengthens unity.”

Among those present at the event were the Philippine Ambassador to Bangladesh, Nina P Kainglet, Administrator of Dhaka North City Corporation Mohammad Ejaz, and renowned celebrity Chef Tommy Miah, among others.