Food and Land Adviser Ali Imam Majumder said excessive use of fertilisers and pesticides to increase crop production has now become a serious threat to safe food.
In the past, artificial fertilisers and pesticides were not used in agriculture. Later, agricultural officials encouraged farmers to use them, as food production needed to be increased at that time, he also said.
"Since then, the use of fertilisers and pesticides has increased excessively. As a result, safe food has declined; and birds, animals and fish are being destroyed."
The adviser made the remarks at a discussion, held on the occasion of the National Safe Food Day 2026 on Monday.
The Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) organised the programme at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) auditorium in the capital.
Food Secretary Firoz Sarker presided over the event, where Agriculture Secretary Dr Md Emdad Ullah Miaa, and BFSA Chairman Md Zakaria spoke also spoke.
The food adviser also questioned the use of hormones and other steps to increase fish production, especially in pangas farming.
He said food demand is rising, and so are the challenges. New diseases are emerging, and these challenges must be addressed to move forward.
Ali Imam Majumder stressed the need for coordinated efforts among all relevant stakeholders to ensure food safety. "Food production must increase, but we must also ensure food safety."
The adviser said ensuring food production and food safety is now a shared responsibility. The state is increasingly bearing the responsibility of providing food for both people and animals.
"We are using technology to increase production and also importing food. Sometimes, even food imports create risks," he added.
The National Safe Food Day is observed every year on February 2. This year's theme is: 'Ensure safe food, build a healthy life'.
Dr Emdad Ullah Mian said producers often do not think about what others are consuming. "Even if we ensure safe food for ourselves, ignoring others makes the entire process unsafe."
He stressed the need for integrated work among the Ministry of Agriculture, BFSA, BSTI, and other agencies.
Attention must be given to three levels of food production - global GAP, local GAP, and general food production. Otherwise, the country would face serious challenges, he added.
Firoz Sarker said food safety requires not only availability, but quality also. He urged everyone, from farmers to consumers, to be more aware, as one in ten people worldwide falls ill due to food-related causes.
He cited Thailand's union-level projects to ensure safe food and healthcare for children, which helped the country make 30 per cent progress; and said Bangladesh needs a similar coordinated action plan.
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