Press release

26 February 2019, Gazipur

Human chain and memorandum to Agriculture Minister demanding

 to stop the introduction  of  GE Golden Rice

Today, on February 26, 2019, four organizations of farmers and agricultural workers have formed a human chain and rally to resist the aggression of multinational seed companies in Bangladesh and demanding to stop introduction of GE Golden Rice, that is harmful for health and environment. The human chain took place in front of Gazipur District Commissioner’s office, Gazipur. Following the human chain, a memorandum that includes four point demands was submitted to Agriculture Minister via   D C, Gazipur.

Md Mamun Hossen of BAFLF conducted the human chain and rally while BAFLF General Secretary Abdul Mazid presided over the same organized jointly by the National Women Farmers’ & Workers’ Association (NWFA), Bangladesh Agricultural Farm Labour Federation(BAFLF), Bangladesh Sramajibi Kendra (BSK), Development Education for Poor (DEP). Among others Golam Sorowor of BSK, Md Monirul Islam of DEP, Md Rahimuddin of BRRI workers’ association and Nasrin Sultana of NWFA spoke at the rally.

Nasrin Sultana said in her speech, Golden Rice is genetically engineered rice. The multinational companies’ paid scientists and propagandists are facilitating and promoting Golden rice telling that this rice contains plenty of vitamin- A, iron and zinc, which will enough to address the problem of Vitamin-A deficiency, including nyctalopia. But according to a report published by the USA’s Food and Drug Administration (US FDA), Golden Rice has a very low level of beta -carotene that is not enough to combat Vitamin A deficiency. Compared with golden rice, sweet potato has fifty times more beta- carotene level and can be grown on non-arable land. Besides, there is a lot of vitamin-A in common fruits and vegetables that are available and plentiful both cultivated and uncultivated sources in our country such as Sajnapata, Kolmi, Puisak , Data, Sweet gourd, bean, papaya, melon, jackfruit, mango, banana, pine apple  etc. Therefore, Golden Rice is not the right solution to eliminate Vitamin A deficiency; rather it is an ineffective solution. Syngenta and IRRI could not prove that the Golden Rice would really solve the problem and not cause the biological contamination of our local variety. Solving the problem of Vitamin-A deficiency is not a technological issue; rather it is related to poverty and balanced diet habit. Poverty and lack of purchasing poor are major cause of malnutrition including VAD. Introducing golden rice is not proper solution to address Vitamin-A deficiency. The introduction of Company patented the so-called Vitamin-A rice will make our agriculture production system more dependent on multinational companies and have serious impact on the traditional agricultural system. She explained Golden Rice commercialization equates to billions of worth corporate profit in expanse of public health, environment and farmers’ seed freedom. So Govt. must abstain from Golden rice commercial release.

BAFLF general secratery Abdul Mazid said  the multinational companies have targeted Bangladesh as laboratory  for the trail  of their GM crops and using people and farmers as guineapigs for their own interest. Unfortunately, the fact is world first GMO vegetable Bt. brinjal has been introduced in 2013 and the first GE Rice is in a stage very close to release in Bangladesh. GMO crops are controversial in terms of bio safety, environment and public health. Transgenic seed is developed by injecting genes of different species into another species. Scientists could not prove that transgenic seed will not cause biological contamination to local variety and any risk caused by consumption of the GM food crop. In view of these concerns, there are international rules and regulations in regards to the introduction of GE seeds. Those scientific and legal warnings are not followed properly in the introduction of GMO crops in Bangladesh. Syngenta and IRRI cannot give enough evidence in favour of any positive gain of gene incorporation from maize to rice. In the case of Golden Rice trail, there are considerable lacking of impartial assessment, transparent and independent safety research. Without ensuring the safety of the public health and environment, without protecting farmers’ interest, the main objective of the approval of Golden Rice for commercial cultivation is to serve multinational companies interest. If the Golden Rice is introduced in Bangladesh agriculture and farmers will affect dangerously, food security will be more vulnerable and will have serious effect on the food sovereignty.

After the human chain, memorandum was given to Agriculture minister via DC Gazipur for the implementation of four point’s demands that include:

1. The introduction Golden Rice has to be stopped.

2. Trail of all GMO crops presently going on must be concealed and commercial cultivation of Bt. Brinjal has to be stopped.

3. Ban on import and use of harmful chemical pesticides.

4. Update Bio Safety Rules 2012 and ensure its proper implementation.

Message sender

Golam Sorowor

On behalf of National Women Farmers’ & Workers’ Association (NWFA), Bangladesh Agricultural Farm Labour Federation (BAFLF), Bangladesh Sramajibi Kendra (BSK), Development Education for Poor (DEP)

Phone Number: 01718713906, 01711951709