NAZIBA BASHER

In a country where rice paddies stretch endlessly and mustard fields glow golden, the soft hum of bees often fills the air. These tiny creatures -- nature’s most vital workers -- are the quiet pulse beneath our harvests.

Globally, the buzz is fading. But in Asia, a rare story of resilience is unfolding.

As we mark World Bee Day today, the question before us is urgent: what more can we do to protect and promote healthy bee populations -- not just globally, but here at home?

Bees are more than honey-makers. They are the backbone of our food system. Nearly 75 percent of global crops depend, at least partly, on pollination -- and bees are the most efficient pollinators. From fruits and vegetables to oilseeds and pulses, the presence of bees directly shapes our diets.

Encouragingly, Asia has shown a more hopeful trend than much of the world. While Western nations report sharp declines in bee populations, countries like China -- the world’s top honey producer with over 400,000 metric tons harvested annually -- are seeing stability or growth. Rich biodiversity, longstanding beekeeping traditions, and growing commercial interest have all played a role.

Bangladesh, too, has seen steady progress. According to the Bangladesh Sugarcrop Research Institute, as of 2017, 1,551 beekeepers were managing 42,911 bee boxes across the country. Mustard fields hosted the highest concentration, reflecting the crop’s significance to bees. This structured beekeeping not only boosts honey yields but also improves pollination, strengthening food security.

Yet, this progress is fragile. The most pressing threat comes from pesticides. Chemicals like neonicotinoids are used freely across our farmlands, often with little awareness. An

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