United News of Bangladesh

Food and Land Adviser Ali Imam Majumder on Monday said that as food demand rises, the risk of various diseases is also increasing, stressing that Bangladesh must ensure safe food to continue on the path of development. He made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a discussion meeting marking National Safe Food Day 2026at the auditorium of the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council in the capital. This year’s theme of the day is “Ensure Safe Food, Build a Healthy Life.” Ali Imam Majumder said that alongside increasing food production, ensuring food safety is equally important. “We are boosting production through technology and also importing food. But in many cases, imported food also poses risks. These challenges must be addressed through coordinated efforts,” he said. Referring to public health concerns, the adviser said that consumption of raw date palm sap is currently creating a risk of Nipah virus infection. “Bats existed before as well, but such diseases were not seen at that time. We need to understand why it has now become a major risk,” he added. Healthy-sounding food labels may mask high levels of added sugar He also stressed the need to investigate whether hormones and other unsafe methods are being used in the production of certain fish species, including pangas. “Food production must increase, but it should not be harmful to human health,” he said. In the first session of the discussion, Food Secretary Md Firoz Sarker presided over the programme, while Agriculture Secretary Dr Md Emdad Ullah Mian attended as a special guest. BFSA Chairman Zakaria delivered the welcome address. BFSA member Dr Mohammad Mostafa presented the results of food sample testing, while the keynote paper was presented by Professor Dr Md Mahmudul Hasan Sikder of Bangladesh Agricultural University. The second session featured an open discussion moderated by the BFSA chairman. Panel discussants included Professor Dr Sangeeta Ahmed of the Department of Microbiology at Dhaka University and Professor Dr Mohammad Ariful Islamof Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University. Healthy-sounding food labels may mask high levels of added sugar Agriculture Secretary Dr Emdad Ullah Mian said that the ministries of agriculture, food and land, along with other relevant ministries, are working in a coordinated manner to ensure food security. He informed that a 25-year agricultural development plan would be finalised soon. Sharing his experience from project inspections, he said he had seen pesticides being mixed with water and applied to vegetables. “When asked, they say, ‘We won’t eat this.’ This mindset must change,” he said.