Press Conference on World Bee Day 2025

On the occasion of World Bee Day, SHSUK, Palli Unnayan Academy, BAPA, BSAFE Foundation and North Bengal Honey Community organized a press conference at Dhaka Reporters Unity. The event was titled “Indiscriminate use of HHPs: A threat to the Environment, Bees, and Food safety”, and speakers discussed the importance of bees, the potential of beekeeping, the harmful effects of pesticides and safe food production. The video shown at the event presented a realistic picture of the losses in beekeeping. Sirajganj beekeeper Abdur Rashid Mandal said that bees died in 160 boxes of his farm in Thakurgaon due to poisoning, causing a loss of about 6 lakh taka. He said that the youth are losing interest in beekeeping and without awareness, this industry will not survive. Jahangir Alam of North Bengal Honey Community Enterprise said that 86% of the world's pollination is done by bees and currently 4 out of 6 bee species are on the verge of extinction. Sakiul Morshed of Shisuk said that without pollination, world food security will be under threat and without bees, human civilization will not survive. He spoke about the need for branding of domestic honey and protecting bees. President of Bsafe Foundation Dr. Zainul Abedin said that although agriculturists were in favor of pesticides earlier, now it has become dangerous. He emphasized on the use of organic pesticides and said that state cooperation is needed in research, production and marketing. President of BAP Noor Mohammad Talukder said that the correct rules for pesticide application are not followed in the country. He emphasized three issues: proper registration, seasonal conservation and application of pesticides considering the weather. Abdullah Al Mamun, Additional Director General of the Rural Development Academy, said that to establish beekeeping as an industry in Bangladesh, community-based initiatives and awareness need to be increased. Excessive pesticides are damaging the environment, reducing yields and weakening the bee population. He said that focusing on producing quality domestic honey can create export opportunities. Finally, the speakers said that awareness needs to be raised, research needs to be done and everyone needs to work together to protect bees and beekeeping. This will stop the misuse of pesticides, save bees, make food safe, protect the environment, increase honey production and create export opportunities.