Fisheries and Livestock State Minister Sultan Salauddin Tuku on Saturday stressed the need for building social awareness at every level to ensuring food safety, saying the uncontrolled use of harmful substances and antibiotics in food poses a severe threat to public health.

“Coordinated efforts from both government and private organisations are essential to protect public health and ensure a sustainable food system,” the state minister said at the 8th National Scientific Conference on ‘Food Safety and Health’, organised by the Bangladesh Society for Safe Food (BSSF) in a city hotel.

Themed ‘Ensuring Safe Food for a Sustainable Future’, the conference brought together researchers, scientists, and food safety experts from universities and institutions across the country.

Highlighting the critical role of research, Tuku urged scientists to step up work on preserving biodiversity and natural resources. “Bangladesh was once known as the land of ‘Maach-e-Bhate Bangali’. We must take effective measures to boost fish production and protect aquatic biodiversity.”

Acknowledging the scale of the challenge, he said feeding a large population safely remains difficult but the government under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is working to ensure a nutritious and sustainable food system for future generations.

The state minister also raised concern over the drug menace, describing it as a major social crisis and called on families, communities, and the state to act together to protect the youth.

BSSF President Professor Dr Md. Khaled Hossain presided over the conference.

Director General of the Department of Livestock Services Md. Shahzaman Khan and Bangladesh Food Safety Authority Chairman (Additional Charge) Md Anwarul Islam Sarkar attended as special guests. Bangladesh Poultry Industries Central Council (BPICC) President Moshiur Rahman was the guest of honour.

Dr Md Monirul Islam, former Member Director (Fisheries) of the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council, presented the keynote paper.