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Food safety concerns mount as BD's eatery industry expands unchecked

Published : Wednesday, 19 February, 2025 at 12:00 AM  Count : 591
Despite the rapid expansion of Bangladesh's food service industry, encompassing hotels, restaurants and roadside tea stalls, concerns over food safety remain largely unaddressed, contributing to serious public health risks.

A recent survey by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) reveals that the number of food establishments across the country has almost doubled in a decade, reaching 436,274 in 2021.

This sector now employs approximately 2.1 million workers. But the lack of proper regulation and food safety measures means that a significant portion of the population continues to consume unhygienic food daily.

During visits to various roadside eateries in areas such as Motijheel, Shahbagh, and Paltan, the UNB correspondent found that many people opt for these establishments due to their affordability.

Sellers said that despite offering meals at low prices, they manage to make a profit as their operating costs are lower than those of conventional restaurants.

When asked about hygiene standards, sellers insisted that their food was fresh and prepared in their homes by family members or employees following proper practices. But public health experts warn that such informal assurances do not guarantee food safety.

The BBS's Hotel-Restaurant Survey 2021 highlights that of the total food service establishments, 344,687 are roadside tea stalls, with 159,393 in urban areas and the remainder in rural regions.

The country also has 67,991 fast-food shops, 19,637 restaurants and mobile food vendors, and 126 catering services.

Despite the sector's rapid expansion, regulation remains inadequate. Outside Dhaka, only 65,000 establishments are registered with the Bangladesh Hotel Restaurant Owners Association, leaving a vast majority unmonitored.

Over the past three decades, the number of hotels and restaurants has steadily increased-from 117,981 in 1992-93 to 215,103 in 2002-03, 275,324 in 2009-10, and 436,274 in 2021.

While male employment in the sector has more than doubled to 1.97 million in 2021 from 850,000 a decade earlier, the number of female workers has also risen significantly to 100,737.

Of the total establishments, only 852 are government-owned, with the rest operating under private ownership. —UNB



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