(BSS) – State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj today warned that any irregularities, negligence, or compromise in quality in the mid-day meal programme of government primary schools across the country would not be tolerated, aiming to ensure safe, nutritious, and quality food for students.

The State Minister made the remarks at an emergency meeting with relevant officials of the ministry and the Directorate of Primary Education held at the conference room of the Dhaka Primary Education Office in Mirpur today.

To ensure the proper and transparent implementation of the mid-day meal programme, the State Minister issued a five-point directive at the meeting. The directives are as follows:

Strict adherence to the prescribed packaging according to the approved sample must be maintained, and no changes shall be made without prior approval.

To ensure transparency in the supply system, the supplier`s driver and the person holding the National Identity Card (NID) must be the same individual. Mandatory identity verification will be conducted during delivery.

Subcontracting will not be allowed under any circumstances, and the concerned institution must submit a signed affidavit in this regard.

Assistant Upazila Education Officers and District Primary Education Officers will conduct unannounced factory inspections at least twice a month.

To monitor students` food safety and service quality, a five-member "Guardian Committee" comprising mothers will be formed at the school level.

The State Minister said the school-level Guardian Committee will include the school`s head teacher, a member of the Managing Committee, and three mothers as parent representatives, who will play a direct role in maintaining food quality at the grassroots level.

During the meeting, the State Minister also directed the formation of a high-level investigation committee to uncover various irregularities, negligence, and unethical activities related to the mid-day meal programme.

He also said strict and exemplary action would be taken against those found responsible in accordance with the rules.

Secretary of the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education Md Sakhawat Hossain, Director General of the Directorate of Primary Education Shahina Ferdousi, the Project Director of the Mid-Day Meal Programme, and other senior officials of the ministry attended the meeting.