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Some 1.5 million poultry farmers in Bangladesh purchase antibiotics every day without consulting veterinarians — representing 68 percent of total farmers — according to a new study.
The research, conducted across 100 farms in seven districts under four divisions, examined broiler, Sonali and layer chickens’ feed, water, eggs and meat. Another study presented at the event shed light on the harmful but widespread practice of ripening fruits such as mango, banana, papaya and tomato with ethylene spray — a method that is internationally banned.
The findings were unveiled on Thursday at a seminar on research dissemination organised by the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) at its Shahbagh office in the capital.
BFSA Chairman Zakaria chaired the event, while Food Ministry Additional Secretary Md Yasin attended as chief guest. Prof Dr Mohammad Gulzarul Aziz of Bangladesh Agricultural University and Dr Tasrin Rabeya Chowdhury, Principal Scientific Officer at Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, joined as discussants.
“Food is a vast ecosystem, moving from production to markets, then factories, and finally into our kitchens. Adulteration often occurs along the way,” said Yasin. He noted that although many consumers are shifting from broiler to Sonali chickens believing them safer, research shows Sonali also contains antibiotics, though within tolerable limits.
Presenting the study “Root Cause Analysis of Heavy Metal and Antibiotic Residue in Poultry Value Chain in Bangladesh,” researcher Mohammad Abdus Samad said poultry production has surged in recent decades to meet rising protein demand. “In densely populated regions where humans and animals live closely, disease prevalence is higher, prompting excessive antibiotic use,” he said.
The study revealed that 84 percent of farmers are aware of antibiotics, yet 80 percent have no knowledge of the laws governing their use in animal feed. About 65 percent showed no interest in veterinary prescriptions. Ciprofloxacin was identified as the most widely used antibiotic in broiler farms, with mid- and small-scale farms reporting higher usage rates. Bogura and Joypurhat districts recorded the highest levels of use.
It also found that half of poultry farmers administer antibiotics to fatten chickens without observing the required withdrawal period before sale.
On heavy metal contamination, Samad said poultry is exposed to lead and other toxins through feed, water and air.
Prof Aziz warned that an “unhealthy race” has emerged to fatten poultry in the shortest time possible.
Dr Tasrin Rabeya Chowdhury cautioned that children’s blood samples and fish from local markets already show traces of lead. “Children eat a lot of fried chicken, leaving families little control. Since poultry and fish feed often contain high levels of lead, urgent government monitoring is needed,” she said. She also stressed the need for Bangladesh to develop domestic ethylene production instead of relying on unsafe ripening methods.
BFSA Chairman Zakaria said while antibiotic residues in poultry remain close to minimal levels, heavy metals pose a much greater concern. Citing a Department of Environment study, he said an estimated 35 million children in Bangladesh have already been affected by lead exposure — a situation he described as an alarming public health warning. He noted that a 10-year action plan is being prepared to tackle the crisis.
He added that the BFSA promotes independent research without interference, noting that 16 laws have been enacted in the past decade to improve food safety and accountability.
Another study, “Standardisation of Ethylene Gas for Uniform Fruit Ripening in Low-Cost Ripening Chambers,” presented by BARI scientist Dr M Golam Ferdous Chowdhury, showed that using ethylene gas in ripening chambers is safe and globally accepted.
Fruits such as mango, banana, papaya and tomato ripen naturally within three days when exposed to 50–100 ppm ethylene gas for 12 hours inside a chamber, he said. Building a chamber with a 1.5–2 tonne capacity requires Tk 3 lakh, with an operating cost of Tk 17,400 per cycle. Farmers can make a net profit of Tk 18,600 monthly, recovering the investment in just 14 months. Two such chambers have already been set up in Monohardi (Narsingdi) and Godagari (Rajshahi).
Dr Hafizul Haque of BARI added that although ethylene is not currently on Bangladesh’s import list, demand could be met through importing raw materials for local production.