Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir has called for environment-friendly production, workers' rights and digital traceability from farm to export to strengthen Bangladeshi shrimp in premium international markets. He was speaking at a high-level dialogue on the shrimp sector at the Sheraton Dhaka hotel on the evening of Thursday, 15 October.
Exports of frozen fish and shrimp rose 19 per cent last year to about $300 million, he said, while India exported more than $5 billion of shrimp in 2024-25, even though Bangladesh has about 42 per cent more land under shrimp. He urged that the gap be treated as a big opportunity to raise productivity and quality.
Buyers now look beyond product quality to who produced it, how workers are treated and whether production is environmentally sound, he said, so the industry must move from paper records to an integrated, transparent digital traceability system.
The commerce ministry has set up a Responsible Business Conduct Cell and is drafting a national policy on responsible business conduct, including labour rights, and a traceability strategy, the minister said. Calling the European Union the largest market for Bangladeshi shrimp, he said the government is committed to reforms to deepen trade ties, including a free trade agreement.
Stressing the industry's importance to coastal livelihoods, he said the fair rights and protection of everyone in the supply chain, from farmers and depot workers to processing workers and exporters, are a government priority.
The dialogue was organised by the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Monterey Bay Aquarium and Totalfood Processing Ltd, a member of the Bangladesh Frozen Foods Exporters Association. Michal Krejza, head of development cooperation at the EU Delegation, was special guest, and ILO Bangladesh country director Max Tunon gave the closing remarks.
Reported by Banglanews24's senior correspondent.
Source: Banglanews24
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