Demand for an ‘Independent Safe Food Commission’ Intensifies
By Mohammed Kawser Ahamed (Dhaka Bureau)
A silent killer is spreading across the plates of 160 million people in Bangladesh. From rice, pulses, and fish to infant formula, toxic chemicals have infiltrated every level of the food chain. Characterizing this horrific food contamination as a ‘Humanitarian Disaster,’ local and international experts, along with human rights activists, have recently issued an urgent open letter to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, the Leader of the Opposition, and Members of Parliament. Their primary demand is the formation of a completely independent and powerful ‘Safe Food Commission.’
Recent research indicates that the food chain in Bangladesh has been compromised by elements that defy imagination. Experts highlighted four major toxic components in their report:
Heavy Metals: Alarming levels of Lead, Cadmium, and Chromium have been detected in various food items.
Pesticide Residue: Vegetables and fruits contain pesticide levels several times higher than the permissible limit.
Radioactive Elements: Traces of Uranium, Radium, and Thorium have been found in groundwater and specific food products.
PFAS: Known as ‘Forever Chemicals,’ these toxic substances are now visible even in fish from water bodies adjacent to industrial zones.
Shockingly, the presence of these toxic elements has been proven in water supplied by Dhaka WASA and in commercially available baby food. There are even allegations that tea served at high-level government meetings is not free from this contamination.
The direct impact of food contamination is ravaging national health. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have become the leading cause of death in Bangladesh. The public health sector is on the verge of collapse, with hospitals overwhelmed by patients. Experts have observed three terrifying trends resulting from food pollution:
1. Child Health Catastrophe: The number of children suffering from cancer and kidney diseases has increased manifold.
2. Genetic Crisis: An increasing number of children are being born with congenital defects and severe ‘Antibiotic Resistance,’ which is destroying the immunity of future generations.
3. Premature Death of Youth: Due to toxic chemicals in food, the rate of heart attacks and strokes among the 20-40 age group has risen alarmingly.
The report, signed by safe food activists and public health experts, states: ‘If the existing system were effective, our soil and water would not be toxic today. Bureaucratic complexity and administrative negligence are the root causes of this crisis.’
Questions have been raised as to why this disaster persists despite the existence of the ‘Bangladesh Safe Food Authority.’ According to activists, the limitations and lack of coordination within current agencies are to blame. They have placed specific demands before the government:
A committee composed of national and international experts must be formed to investigate the failures of the current system and the accountability of officials.
Transparency and Lab Testing: Food products must be tested in multiple internationally accredited laboratories, and the results must be published directly to the public.
Strict Law Enforcement: The proposed Commission must be granted the power to take direct action against polluters at any stage—from producer to supplier.
The report concludes with a powerful message: ‘Safe food is not a luxury; it is a fundamental human right.’ Civil society is now questioning the government: can the state, run by taxpayers’ money, guarantee safe food for their children?
The food crisis in Bangladesh is no longer just a local issue; it has evolved into a global public health concern. The eyes of the international community are now on the decisions of the policymakers in Dhaka.
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The Author:
Mohammed Kawser Ahamed: Staff Correspondent and Head of Admin, Pressenza- Dhaka Bureau.
