Bangladesh has become a testing ground for multinational companies' experiments, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Chief Executive of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA), said on Monday (May 6).
“The multinational companies are working towards severing nature from us,” said the BELA chief at a discussion meeting titled “Genetically Modified Crops: Golden Rice and Bt Eggplant - Questions That Need to Be Addressed Before Launching in Bangladesh,” held at the National Press Club in Dhaka.
During the meeting, Rizwana Hasan said a multinational company sought permission from three countries, including Bangladesh, to launch its genetically modified crop, BT eggplant. While India rejected their proposal, Bangladesh approved the crop and is currently reviewing another proposal to launch genetically modified Golden Rice.
She said nature is being tortured for the sake of political and economic interests.
Discussing the proposal seeking approval for Golden Rice in Bangladesh, Farida Akhter, executive director of Research for Development Alternative, said, “Controversies surround Golden Rice globally. The Philippines approved the rice only to withdraw it due to farmer protests.”
She said, “Majority of Bangladeshi farmers cultivate Bri-29 without any patent. If a foreign company obtains the patent, the consequences are easily foreseeable.”
