Billal Hossain, Jamalpur
A nutrition fair was held in Dewanganj, Jamalpur under the initiative of the Gender Inclusive Market Systems for Improved Nutrition (GESMIN) project. The day-long nutrition fair was organized in the Rampur Chikajani area of Dewanganj upazila on Thursday (May 22). At the fair, Upazila Executive Officer Ataur Rahman, Upazila Agriculture Officer Md. Alamgir Azad, Community Health Provider Mokhlesur Rahman, several Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officers, Director of Development Association Manab Sampad Jahangir Selim, Nutrition Specialist of World Vision Jasmine Project Nahida Islam Akhy spoke at the campaign meeting, and the program was moderated by Upazila Coordinator of Jasmine Project Md. Sharif Uddin.
‎As part of the May Moment included in the Five Zero Plus and ENOUGH campaigns, Md. Sharif Uddin, Upazila Coordinator of the Jasmine Project, discussed the theme Global May Moment-2025-Nourish 2 Flourish and highlighted the importance of safe and nutritious food. He said that food security and nutrition are a major challenge for Bangladesh and malnutrition is hindering the physical and mental development of children. Various initiatives, including the ENOUGH campaign, are working to address this challenge. Participants in the event pledged to work from their respective positions to ensure safe and nutritious food and to build a healthy, strong and nutritious Bangladesh.
At the end of the discussion, Khwaja Baba Satya Baul Sangha performed a folk song from Jamalpur regarding safe and nutritious food. Community members, mothers and children, and adolescents participate in this fair. Basic information about nutritious and safe food such as food safety, causes of unsafe food, food selection and purchasing, preservation, preparation, and cooking in nutritious ways are discussed. Six stalls were set up at this fair: Eco-friendly family nutrition garden, family nutrition and balanced diet, safe food corner, adolescent nutrition and cleanliness, impact of nutrition on gender equality, and impact of income on improving family nutrition. It is worth noting that the Jasmine Project has been operating in 4 upazilas of Jamalpur district (Sadar, Melandah, Islampur and Dewanganj) since 2023. This is an extension of the NSVC project (2018-2023), implemented through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP), with support from the Australian Government.