Food Adviser Ali Imam Majumder on Monday said that a modern and safe food system cannot be built without skilled human resources and quality testing laboratories.
He said this at a national seminar titled “Modern Food Safety System in Bangladesh” organised by the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA).
Speaking as the chief guest Majumder announced that a state-of-the-art food safety laboratory is being set up in Dhaka with support from the government of Japan and JICA.
Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Shinichi Saida and JICA Bangladesh Chief Representative Tomohide Ichiguchi attended the seminar as special guests, while Food Secretary Mohammad Masudul Hasan presided over the session.
The keynote paper was presented by Manjur Morshed Ahmed, director of the Institute of Food Science and Technology under the Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR).
Highlighting the missed opportunities in global food exports, the food adviser said, “Bangladesh has immense potential in food export, but we are unable to fully utilize this due to a lack of food safety compliance. Ensuring food safety and quality can open doors to international markets and significantly boost export earnings in the agriculture and food sectors.”
He shared that, under the current caretaker government and with a loan agreement from Japan, a national reference laboratory for food safety will be established in Dhaka under the BFSA. Additionally, the plan includes constructing an office complex and a specialised training centre for food officials and industry stakeholders. Division-level food safety labs and office buildings will also be built in Chattogram and Khulna to expand nationwide testing and enforcement activities.
Ambassador Saida praised the longstanding partnership between Japan and Bangladesh, noting that Japan has supported various sectors including energy, infrastructure, metro rail, and agriculture. “Food safety is a new frontier in our collaboration, and we are glad to expand our cooperation in this area,” he said.
He cited Japan’s transition from punitive food inspections to a more guidance-based system, emphasising that food safety requires a coordinated approach involving multiple ministries, clear division of responsibilities, and an integrated framework to ensure unified licensing systems.
The ambassador confirmed the signing of a loan agreement between Japan and Bangladesh to strengthen lab capabilities and noted ongoing technical cooperation in the sector. He expressed hope that Bangladesh would take effective steps to recruit an adequate number of skilled food inspectors and lab professionals to ensure proper functionality of these labs.
In his presidential address, Food Secretary Masudul Hasan said partial or short-term solutions are not enough. “What we need is a comprehensive, modern food safety system,” he noted, adding that BFSA and JICA’s STIRC project are working tirelessly toward that goal in collaboration with stakeholders.
In his welcome speech, BFSA Chairman Zakaria expressed gratitude to JICA and the Japanese government for their continued support to the Authority.
Keynote speaker Manjur Morshed stated that around 200 types of diseases are caused by unsafe food, affecting an estimated 1.6 million people globally every day. He warned that without ensuring food safety, achieving SDGs 1 (No Poverty), 2 (Zero Hunger), and 3 (Good Health and Well-being) will remain elusive.
He also emphasised the scientific approach in developing a modern food safety management system.
The seminar was attended by representatives from regulatory bodies, various ministries, industry associations, donor agencies, local and international organizations, food industry leaders, journalists, and members of civil society.
