PM inspects mobile food testing lab

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has inspected a mobile laboratory van designed to test food samples as the country steps up efforts to detect food adulteration and strengthen food safety monitoring.

The prime minister visited the mobile laboratory at the Secretariat in the morning before entering his office. He went inside the van to observe the procedures for collecting and testing food samples, while officials briefed him on its operations.

Officials informed the prime minister that food testing and monitoring activities had been intensified as part of anti-adulteration drives across the country’s 64 districts.

Mobile laboratories are currently being used to test food samples and monitor food safety in eight metropolitan areas. The authorities plan to gradually expand the programme to all 64 districts.

The operations are conducted through separate mechanisms, including mobile courts led by executive magistrates and activities supervised by the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority.

Meanwhile, the authority is undertaking a procurement initiative to acquire 72 mobile laboratory vans under its capacity-building project for the 2026–27 fiscal year.

The mobile laboratories also feature public awareness facilities. Monitors installed on the exterior of the vans display educational videos on food safety to raise public awareness about safe food practices.