Agriculture minister seeks Icddr,b support for building international standard lab

Agriculture Minister Dr Mohammad Abdur Razzak visited the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (Icddr,b) today and sought its cooperation in setting up an international standard laboratory. 

The Agriculture Ministry is working to set-up an internationally recognised testing and certification laboratory in order to strengthen the quality of food and agricultural products, including products which Bangladesh exports, imports and consumes.

"We would like to collaborate with the research centre to help to set-up an international standard lab for the Agriculture Ministry. We also want our staff to have hands-on training here," the minister said.

Executive Director of the research centre Professor John D Clemens presented an overview of the organization and how it operates in public health research and innovation. 

"The Icddr,b has always been supportive of the government and will extend its full cooperation to the ministry's efforts in setting up the lab. The icddr,b is committed to ensuring healthy food, which is a prerequisite for combating malnutrition in Bangladesh," he said.

The minister and his team of scientists and officials toured three research and four clinical laboratories. The tour also included the Icddr,b Dhaka Hospital at Mohakhali, which provides care to 1,000 patients every day free-of-charge.