SAJJAD HOSSAIN

Responding to a UN call for a worldwide ban, carbofuran, a highly toxic pesticide, was banned by the government last year. However, due to a lack of monitoring and enforcement, the pesticide is still being sold openly across the country.

Carbofuran, widely used in agriculture, was first banned on June 30 last year. Then the deadline for the ban was extended till October 30, following a request from importers and traders to sell the already imported stock.

Bangladesh became the 88th country to ban carbofuran since the UN called for it in 2016, terming carbofuran harmful to both human health and fertility of arable lands.

According to WHO, most people die in Bangladesh due to heart disease and stroke, and food poisoning is one of the main causes of them.

Nurul Alom, entomologist and former director of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), said, “The soil’s fertility will keep decreasing if carbofuran usage continues.”

Nurul also said when carbofuran is used in farmland, the crops remain toxic for 30 days after use.

However, visiting a dozen shops last month across 10 districts, including Munshiganj, Faridpur, Sunamganj, Rajbari, Dhaka, and Manikganj, The Daily Star found carbofuran is still being sold to farmers. Besides, several e-commerce sites are selling the banned pesticide on social media platforms.

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