State Minister for Food and Public Administration Md Abdul Bari -File photo

DHAKA, May 23, 2026 (BSS) – State Minister for Food and Public Administration Md Abdul Bari today stressed the need for increasing the use of organic fertiliser to ensure safe food production, saying excessive use of pesticides is causing serious health risks, particularly among children.

“Where one kilogram of pesticide is required, three kilograms are being used. Excessive use of pesticides in vegetables, fruits and fish is severely hampering food safety,” he said.

The minister was addressing an inception seminar and cheque distribution ceremony of the fellowship programme for the 2025–26 fiscal year under the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) fellowship activities this afternoon.

He said incidents of children being affected by food poisoning are increasing due to lack of food safety and excessive use of pesticides in food production.

“Although there is huge potential for exporting food and processed food products to the global market, Bangladesh is failing to access the desired markets due to shortcomings in food purity and safety,” he said.

Abdul Bari stressed the importance of ensuring safe production, supply and marketing of food products.

He said cancer and various other diseases are increasing due to food adulteration and the use of harmful chemicals.

“Twenty years ago, the country did not witness such a high prevalence of cancer,” he added, mentioning the government’s initiatives to increase the use of organic fertiliser.

Chaired by BFSA Chairman (additional charge) Md Anowarul Islam Sarkar, the programme was attended by Food Secretary Abu Taher Md Masud Rana as special guest.

BFSA members Dr Mohammad Mostafa and Dr Mohammad Shoaib delivered the welcome speeches.

The state minister said regular market monitoring and drives should be conducted at divisional and district levels to raise public awareness about safe food.

He also emphasised strict enforcement of laws to prevent food adulteration and irregularities.

The state minister said no institution can move forward without honesty and efficiency of its officials, adding that the country would progress if everyone performs their responsibilities properly.

According to the organisers, BFSA has launched the ‘Fellowship Programme-2026’ under the BFSA Fellowship Policy-2024 to create new opportunities for research in the food safety sector.

A total of 20 fellows were finally selected from 323 applicants in the programme launched for the first time.

Under the fellowship, each fellow will receive an allowance of Taka 84,000 for one year, while the total expenditure for each fellow, including supervisor honorarium and research expenses, will amount to Taka 164,000.

BFSA also plans to expand the fellowship programme to MPhil and PhD levels in the future.