Speakers for ensuring healthy and women-friendly market  

Speakers at a discussion called for ensuring healthy and women-friendly markets as most of the kitchen markets lacked favourable atmosphere across the country. 
 
To mark International Women's Day, they made the call while addressing a discussion programme in the capital on Monday, said a press release.  
 
Dhaka South City Corporation (Zone-3) in association with Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), a Switzerland-based international organisation, organised the programme.  
 
In the discussion, speakers highlighted the demand for safe and healthy environment for women consumers at kitchen markets.
 
In the morning, a rally was brought from Islambagh City Corporation Kitchen Market in Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and later it ended at Zone-3 office of DSCC.
 
Babor Ali Mir, an official of Zone-3, formally inaugurated the rally. Later, the discussion was held at Shapla Hall Room of the Zone-3 Office.
 
Mufizur Rahman, executive engineer of Zone-3 of DSCC; GM Sumon Reza, co-lead of EatSafe project; Shakhawat Hossain, project director; Jahidul Islam, president of Islambagh City Corporation Kitchen Market; and its joint general secretary Md Abdur Rashid, among others, spoke.          
 
Women consumers face trouble due to unfavourable environment while visiting markets, the speakers said, stressing the need on taking necessary steps so that women consumers get healthy facilities and a favourable atmosphere for them at Islambagh Kitchen Market.
 
Besides, they placed recommendations as to what type of environment should prevail at an ideal market and what type of facility should be available there.    
 
GAIN set up a toilet and kept an arrangement of hand wash for women consumers at Islambagh Kitchen Market.
 
At the end of the discussion, bucket, mug, hand-wash and detergent powder were also distributed among women consumers at the market.   
 
Amid coronavirus situation, two projects titled 'EatSafe: Evidence and action towards safe, nutritious food: Covid-19 response' are being implemented by GAIN to ensure the supply of nutritious and safe food and smooth market management.