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
