Chattogram district administration is launching a food safety and hygiene training program for restaurant chefs and staff, shifting strategy from punitive fines to long-term prevention.

Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Zahidul Islam Mian announced the initiative following recent mobile court drives and public complaints that exposed persistent hygiene violations across local eateries. Heavy financial penalties—some reaching up to Tk 20 lakh—have failed to yield lasting improvements, with identical health infractions often resurfacing within months. Recognizing that enforcement alone is insufficient, the administration aims to foster genuine accountability among business owners and workers.

The new strategy was finalized during a consultative meeting with restaurant owners, regulatory officials, and media representatives. To establish better habits, restaurant owners agreed to dedicate every Saturday to intensive, deep-cleaning drives. A public awareness rally featuring restaurant owners and staff will launch the initiative this Saturday, accompanied by official inspections to ensure compliance with the cleaning schedule.

Addressing a request from restaurant management, the administration will also provide targeted training on sanitary food preparation and personal health maintenance. Owners are currently compiling employee lists for the program. DC Zahidul emphasized that proper hygiene protects not only consumers, but also food handlers who face health risks from unsafe working conditions.

This training initiative builds on a prior directive granting hotels and restaurants 10 days to meet baseline hygiene standards. Eateries that fail to comply risk having their official licence grades downgraded.

Highlighting the public health stakes, Zahidul noted a rise in citizens requesting medical assistance for severe conditions like kidney disease at weekly public hearings. He warned that widespread ill health caused by unsafe food imposes a heavy financial burden on the economy, stressing that protecting public health requires active collaboration between the government, business owners, workers, and consumers.