Rayhan Ahmed, Mymensingh: Efforts to ensure safe food in Mymensingh received a major boost on Monday with the launch of a mobile food testing laboratory, enabling authorities to conduct on-the-spot examinations of food samples in markets, hotels, restaurants and food processing establishments.Officials believe the initiative will strengthen field-level monitoring and help curb the sale of adulterated and unsafe food products across the division.The mobile laboratory, allocated for Mymensingh Division under a capacity enhancement project of the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA), was inaugurated at the premises of the Divisional Commissioner’s Office in Mymensingh on Monday morning. The programme was organised by the Mymensingh Metropolitan Office of the BFSA.Divisional Commissioner S M Humayun Kabir Sarkar attended the event as the chief guest, while Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Saifur Rahman presided over the programme.According to BFSA officials, the mobile laboratory is equipped with modern testing instruments that will allow inspectors to collect and examine food samples directly in the field. The facility will help identify food adulteration, the presence of harmful chemicals and substandard products more quickly and efficiently.Officials said regular monitoring and strict enforcement of food safety laws are essential alongside public awareness campaigns to ensure safe food for consumers. They expressed hope that the new laboratory would make enforcement drives more effective and strengthen the authority’s efforts to protect public health.Among others present at the inauguration were BFSA Mymensingh Metropolitan Office official Atikur Rahman, Mymensingh District Food Safety Officer Mahbub Arefin Rafi, sample collector Mamun Or Rashid, officials from various government departments and media representatives. People concerned with the initiative expect that the launch of the mobile safe food testing laboratory will accelerate food quality control activities in Mymensingh Division and add new momentum to the national campaign for ensuring safe food for all.