Calls for Consumer-Centric Reforms to Ensure Safe Food

A recent national seminar in Dhaka has raised concerns over public health risks posed by unsafe food and weak regulatory oversight, with 71 percent of vegetables in the market containing excessive pesticides, and trans fats detected in edible oils. Increasing complaints of online food fraud have also been reported, prompting experts to stress the need for improved digital complaint mechanisms and easier access to remedies.

The seminar, held on 6 December at the Cotton Development Building in Farmgate, focused on ensuring safe food and establishing consumer rights. Key speakers included agricultural scientist Dr. Mohammad Zainul Abedin, former Agriculture Secretary Anwar Faruq, Additional Director of the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority Kausarul Islam Sikdar, Additional Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension Dr. Mohammad Enayet-e-Rabbi, BSTI Deputy Director Enamul Haque, agricultural economist Dr. Nazrul Islam, CAB Secretary Advocate Humayun Kabir Bhuiya, CAB Dhaka District Committee President Brigadier General (Retd.) Sams E. Khan, and CAB Executive Committee member Shawkat Ali Khan.

Speakers emphasized that competing political parties should explicitly commit to food safety and consumer rights in their election manifestos. Coordination among regulatory agencies is critical for sustainable change, and consumer protection efforts must extend beyond Dhaka to the grassroots through active sub-district CAB committees.

In the keynote paper, Mahmud Hasan, Link Director of Bangladesh Safe Agro Food Efforts (BSAFE), highlighted that approximately 30 million people face risks from foodborne diseases annually. Issues such as adulteration, misleading advertisements, unsafe products, and online fraud are on the rise. Last year, over 80,000 complaints submitted to DNCRP revealed alarming increases in consumer rights violations.

CAB President and Bangladesh Government Secretary (PERL) AHM Safiquzzaman, who presided over the seminar, underscored the association’s commitment to ensuring safe food and supporting BSAFE initiatives. He urged political parties forming the next government to pledge to guarantee safe food for citizens.

Professor Nazrul Islam of North South University emphasized that while population growth requires increased food production, overreliance on chemical fertilizers has compromised soil fertility and crop quality. Farmers must shift toward organic fertilizers to maintain sustainable agricultural productivity.

The seminar also stressed strengthening partnerships among stakeholders, improving accountability in food markets, increasing consumer awareness and participation, developing research- and evidence-based policies, enhancing digital complaint mechanisms, drafting safe food regulations, supporting consumer empowerment, and implementing sustainable, eco-friendly, and climate-sensitive practices.

DBTech/BTN/EK/OR