Dhaka:Prime Minister's Public Administration Adviser Md Ismail Zabihullah has requested technical assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to establish food testing laboratories in all 64 districts of Bangladesh. This initiative aims to enhance food quality testing and ensure safety across the nation.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Zabihullah emphasized the importance of complying with international food safety standards to improve the global competitiveness of Bangladeshi food products. The request was made during a meeting with a six-member JICA delegation led by Takahashi Junko, Chief Representative of JICA Bangladesh, at the Bangladesh Secretariat.
During the discussions, Atsushi Koyama, team leader of the JICA, presented recommendations for strengthening food safety administration. Key topics included protecting public health, ensuring safe food for citizens, preventing food adulteration, addressing foodborne illness challenges, and expanding technical capacity-building initiatives.
Zabihullah highlighted the government's commitment to ensuring safe food nationwide, as outlined in its election manifesto. Efforts are being made to enhance the capabilities of institutions like the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority and the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) by recruiting more personnel, improving monitoring, and enforcing food safety laws.
Takahashi Junko suggested streamlining existing food safety laws and regulations to improve the system's effectiveness. She proposed developing an integrated legal framework and a unified licensing system for food businesses. JICA plans to establish three international-standard laboratories in Dhaka, Chittagong, and Khulna to bolster the country's food safety system.
Junko also highlighted the need for specialized technical expertise, internationally accredited laboratories, and a nationwide mechanism for food sample collection and inspection. She recommended increasing the number of district-level food safety inspectors and offered technical training for them to ensure scientific, risk-based oversight of food businesses.
Senior officials from the JICA Bangladesh Office also attended the meeting.