The Bangladesh Dairy Development Board will open branch offices at key locations across the country to increase milk and dairy production and improve quality standards, Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter said on Monday.

Farida stressed the need to identify major dairy production hubs, establish an adequate number of regional offices, and develop an appropriate manpower structure to ensure effective implementation of the board’s mandate.

She made the remarks while presiding as chairperson over the first meeting of the dairy development governing board, formed under the Bangladesh Dairy Development Board Act, 2023, at the Fisheries and Livestock Ministry conference room.

Emphasising the importance of dairy as a balanced food, she said the board must play a strong role in increasing production, setting and controlling quality standards, marketing dairy products and ensuring proper management of related activities.

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“To ensure safe milk and dairy products for people across the country, the activities of the Dairy Development Board must go beyond the confines of its headquarters and expand nationwide,” she said, adding that regular board meetings are essential for effective implementation of the law.

The 15-member governing board meeting was attended by Fisheries and Livestock Secretary Abu Tahir Muhammed Zaber, who served as vice-chairman of the board.

The secretary informed the meeting that Joint Secretary Shahina Ferdousi has been appointed as Executive Director of the board by the Ministry of Public Administration and will also serve as the board’s member secretary.

The meeting was convened to approve key decisions required for implementing the functions assigned to the board under the law.

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Board members also discussed launching extensive publicity and awareness campaigns to familiarise stakeholders and the public with the activities of the Dairy Development Board, expressing unanimous support for the initiative.