Staff Correspondent

The fifth National Bee and Honey Conference was held in Dhaka with the objectives of raising awareness, dispelling misconceptions about honey, and fostering collaboration and good relations among researchers, farmers, producers, traders, and consumers.

Organized by the Bee and Honey Association and sponsored by Ghorer Bazar, a household food producer, the conference took place on Saturday (December 21, 2024) at the Institution of Diploma Engineers Bangladesh (IDEB) in the capital. Previous editions of the conference were held in various districts across the country.

The Chief Conservator of Forests of the Forest Department under the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change, Md. Amir Hosain Chowdhury, inaugurated the conference as the chief guest. Distinguished guests included Dr. Kabir Uddin Ahmed, Director General of the Bangladesh Sugarcrop Research Institute (BSRI), and Md. Mokhlesur Rahman, Food Safety Officer of the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority, Khulna.

At the event, eight individuals were honored with the prestigious Honey Award for their contributions to bee farming and honey-related initiatives. The awardees included Dr. Ahsanul Haque Swapan, Professor, Department of Entomology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Dr. Mohammad Sakhawat Hossain, Professor, Department of Entomology, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Khondokar Aminuzzaman, Former Project Director, Bee Farming Project, BSCIC, Md. Ali Ashraf Khan, Former General Manager (Retired), BSCIC, Jagadish Chandra Saha, Md. Ayub Ali Gazi, a veteran beekeeper from Satkhira, Md. Chan Mia Sarkar, a senior beekeeper from Sirajganj, Dr. Abu Nasir Mohsin Hossain, Divisional Forest Officer, Tangail.

Speaking about the conference, Jamshed Mojumder, Managing Director of Ghorer Bazar, said, “The aim of this conference is to bring together honey researchers, entrepreneurs, traders, and beekeepers from across the country to discuss the current state, challenges, and future prospects of Bangladesh’s honey industry. Through this initiative, Ghorer Bazar is contributing to the development, marketing, and global positioning of the country’s honey industry, creating new business opportunities for honey producers.”

Mohammad Nazmus Sakib, Director and CEO of Ghorer Bazar said, “Like ready-made garments and fish, honey will also secure a top position among Bangladesh’s export products and enhance the country's global standing.”

Speakers at the conference included honey researcher Syed Md. Moinul Anwar and Bee and Honey Association Convener Md. Ebadullah Afzal. Syed Md. Moinul Anwar remarked, “We hope the Bee and Honey Association strengthens the position of honey in our country. However, identifying pure and adulterated honey remains a significant challenge, and we have much work to do in this area.”

Md. Ebadullah Afzal elaborated on the mission of the Bee and Honey Association, stating, “The Association aims to create a collaborative environment by uniting all stakeholders in the honey industry—beekeepers, farmers, traders, researchers, entrepreneurs, and consumers—under one platform. Spreading accurate research and information about honey and sharing it nationwide is a key goal.”

Since its inception, the Association has organized various activities, including exhibitions, meetings, seminars, honey fairs, and honey tourism in the Sundarbans, to raise awareness, address misconceptions, and build bridges among stakeholders. The Association currently boasts over 26,000 members.

Ghorer Bazar officials shared that the demand and market for honey in Bangladesh are steadily increasing. The annual honey market value in the country is estimated at Tk 1,200–1,500 crore. In 2024, 20,000–25,000 metric tons of honey were collected from natural and cultivated sources, with 90–95% of it coming from cultivated sources. While some honey is being exported, modern processing and collection facilities remain limited in the country, though some entrepreneurs are working to address this gap.

The day-long Bee and Honey exhibition was primarily sponsored by Ghorer Bazar.