The Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation on Tuesday observed World Iodine Deficiency Day 2025 at its headquarters BSCIC Bhaban at Tejgaon in Dhaka city with a seminar and the inauguration of its ‘Salt Cell’.
The seminar was presided over by BSCIC chairman Md Saiful Islam with industries ministry secretary Md Obaidur Rahman attending as chief guest, said a press release issued by the corporation on Tuesday.
At the seminar, Ashek Mahmud, portfolio lead, large scale food fortification wing at GAIN Bangladesh, presented the keynote paper in which he said that Canada was the first country in the world to produce fortified salt.
‘Bangladesh started to fortify salt much later,’ he said, adding that in Bangldesh potassium iodate was added to the salt which prevents it from liquefying while kept near kitchen stoves or kept in the open.Â
The keynote paper further notes that iodine does not store in body, making it necessary for its daily intake, adding that although goitre is more well known among diseases caused by iodine deficiencies, but impact on brain development is a more serious problem caused by its deficiency.
Chief guest Md Obaidur Rahman said that among the micronutrient deficiency, iodine deficiency was one of the major problems for the country.Â
Special guest of the event was health education directorate director general Dr Nazmul Hossain, while BSCIC director for industry development and extension Md Khairuzzaman, its Salt Cell chief Sarwar Hossain, Techno Serve country manager Md Gulzar Ahmmed and Bangladesh Salt Mills Owners’ Association chairman Nurul Kabir spoke at the seminar.