Dhaka, Jan. 10 -- Nutrition status in many impoverished districts has deteriorated further for installation of modern auto-rice mills, mainly for over-polishing rice by millers.

Apart from poverty and lack of dietary knowledge, rice polishing by automated rice mills leaves almost no nutrient in the staple.

Such mindless act causes a rise in zinc, vitamin A and other nutrient deficiencies in Panchagarh, Nilphamari, Gaibandha, Moulvibazar and Sunamganj, as the FE has visited the districts in recent months.

Official data shows undernourished children and women with malnutrition are still much higher in the districts than the national average.

Latifur Mian, a farm labourer at Uttar Bhogdaburi in Domar, Nilphamari, has seven members in the...