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From formalin-laced fish to adulterated spices, food safety has long been a lingering concern for consumers across Bangladesh.
Now, in a significant step towards restoring public confidence and strengthening oversight, the government is planning to establish a state-of-the-art reference laboratory in Dhaka alongside two modern food testing laboratories in Chattogram and Khulna divisions by 2031.
The project, part of the Food Testing Capacity Development Project supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), aims to modernise the country’s fragmented food testing system and enhance its ability to detect contamination with greater accuracy and speed.
A system under pressure
At present, mobile laboratory vans conduct instant testing at field level across all seven divisions while mini-labs in districts provide preliminary screening.
More advanced testing is carried out in approved government and private laboratories.
Officials said this layered system has helped expand coverage but still faces limitations in consistency, capacity and technological sophistication.
The proposed reference laboratory in Dhaka is expected to serve as the central hub for high-precision analysis, setting benchmarks and ensuring uniform standards nationwide.
The regional labs in Chattogram and Khulna will further decentralise advanced testing capacity, reducing delays and improving regional access.
The Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA), under the Ministry of Food, has been leading nationwide efforts through mobile courts, inspections and sample testing.
At least 15 food establishments are monitored every month by each field office, with follow-up checks to ensure compliance.
In the 2024–25 fiscal year, nearly 16,000 food establishments and markets were inspected, while more than 11,000 have already been monitored in 2025–26 fiscal year.
Mobile courts, a key enforcement tool, have also been active.
In 2024–25, 150 establishments were penalised by central mobile courts, resulting in fines of over Tk 1.04 crore. In 2025-26 fiscal year, 126 drives have so far yielded Tk 56 lakh in fines.
Beyond the central operations, district and upazila administrations conduct additional drives with support from food safety officers, extending enforcement reach across the country.
Legal action and surveillance
To strengthen legal enforcement, 71 pure food courts are currently operational nationwide, according to an official document gleaned by UNB .
These courts handled 137 cases in 2024–25, collecting Tk 23 lakh in fines. In the current fiscal year, 120 cases have already been filed, with fines amounting to over Tk 90 lakh.
Food sample testing, a cornerstone of surveillance, is also being carried out at multiple levels. Each district collects at least two samples monthly for laboratory analysis.
In 2024–25, over 1,700 samples were tested through approved laboratories, while more than 1,300 samples have been tested so far in 2025–26 (until February).
Mini-labs and mobile testing units continue to play a crucial role in rapid screening. Last fiscal year, over 6,500 samples were tested through mini-labs and more than 9,400 via mobile labs.
The current fiscal year has already seen over 10,000 tests conducted in mini-labs and around 7,600 through mobile units,according to government document.
Towards a safer food chain
Despite these efforts, experts say the absence of a centralised, high-capacity reference facility has been a major gap in Bangladesh’s food safety architecture.
Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution’s ability to regulate products requiring mandatory certification remains seriously inadequate, leaving consumers vulnerable to low-quality and counterfeit goods.
Although around 315 products are supposed to receive compulsory BSTI approval, consistent market monitoring is largely absent. Surprise inspections are uncommon, and many small manufacturers and importers continue to use counterfeit BSTI seals with minimal fear of consequences.
The organisation also struggles with limited resources, operating with only a few laboratories and inspectors—often with a single কর্মকর্তা responsible for multiple districts—making regular oversight impractical.
Even when irregularities are identified, the penalties imposed are so minor that many businesses choose to disregard compliance altogether.
Enforcement efforts tend to focus more on small traders, while influential groups and substandard imports frequently avoid scrutiny.
As a result, uncertified bottled water, edible oil, cement, baby food and electrical products often make their way into the market.
Rural areas receive little to no monitoring, and checks on imported electronics, cosmetics and processed foods at customs remain weak.
The planned laboratories are expected to address this by improving detection capabilities, ensuring internationally compliant testing standards, and supporting evidence-based enforcement.
As Bangladesh’s food system grows increasingly complex with urbanisation and changing consumption patterns, officials believe that investing in modern testing infrastructure will be critical to safeguarding public health.