May 20, 2025 is World Bee Day. Since 2018, UN member states have observed this day in honor of bees. This year's theme is: "Bee inspired by nature to nourish us all".
Bees play a vital role in making our environment habitable. Pollination is essential for agri-food systems, supporting over 75% of global crop production, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. With more than 20,000 species of pollinating bees, they not only increase crop yields but also improve food quality and diversity. (UN Bee portal)
Unfortunately, bees are now under severe threat. Due to human activities, the current rate of species extinction is 100 to 1,000 times higher than normal. If this trend continues, nutritious crops and various vegetables will gradually be replaced by a few staple foods, leading to imbalanced diets. (UN Bee portal)
The use of pesticides, intensive farming practices, land-use changes, monocropping, and climate change all pose direct threats to bee populations—ultimately impacting our food quality and quantity. Raising awareness to protect pollinators like bees and other insects from extinction is crucial.
Widespread use of hazardous pesticides: A threat to humanity and the environment
The widespread use of Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs) in agriculture is a blatant disregard for human and environmental safety. Each year, around 385 million pesticide-related incidents occur, disproportionately affecting smallholder farmers, rural women, and children in the Global South.
In June 2018, 15 children were admitted to Dinajpur Medical College Hospital with similar symptoms. Tragically, 13 of them died within hours. A team from the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) investigated and found that the deaths were linked to toxic pesticide use in litchi orchards. (BBC News, June 27, 2012)
Beekeeper Arju Alam is from Pabna district. Every year, from October to April, Arju travels to various parts of the country with his beehives to set up apiaries and collect honey. This year, during the litchi season, he set up his apiary on March 20 in Biral upazila, Dinajpur. However, just three days after establishing the farm, the orchard owner sprayed pesticides on the litchi trees. As a result of pesticide poisoning, all the bees in Arju’s farm died. (Prothom Alo, April 6, 2025)
Pesticides also severely impact the environment. They contaminate rivers and groundwater, polluting ecosystems and threatening aquatic biodiversity. Pesticide residues in the soil enter the food chain, causing long-term health risks, including hormonal disorders and cancer.
According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, pesticide usage has increased tenfold over five decades—from 4,000 tons in 1972 to 40,000 tons in 2022. Since 2000, the number of pesticide importers in Bangladesh has risen by 250%, reaching 700 companies, underscoring the urgent need for strict regulation and oversight.
Bangladesh’s regulatory response and loopholes
Shockingly, even though many of these hazardous pesticides are banned in developed countries, companies continue to export them to countries with weaker regulations, especially in the Global South. This is a clear act of double standards. According to a survey by Pesticide Action Network Asia Pacific (PANAP), 11 banned pesticides not approved by the European Union were still found in retail shops across Bangladesh.
A survey by SHISUK revealed that these banned pesticides are being openly sold online and in offline markets, with newer banned pesticides dominating online platforms, while older ones are sold secretly at the district level.
Multinational corporations often influence policy-making and agricultural practices in many developing countries, facilitating the unchecked expansion of toxic chemical industries. This not only jeopardizes farmers’ health and livelihoods but also threatens biodiversity and planetary sustainability.
To protect farmers, biodiversity, and the environment, it is essential to hold international corporations and their stakeholders accountable and bring them to justice.
Global commitments and sustainable solutions
In line with the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) goal to phase out highly hazardous pesticides by 2035, we urge governments to ensure corporate accountability for the damage caused by toxic chemicals and to support efforts to eliminate hazardous pesticides. Together with affected communities, stakeholders, and supporters, we will continue this fight.
Recognizing the links between the pollination crisis, biodiversity, and livelihoods, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has prioritized the conservation and sustainable use of pollinators.
In 2000, the International Pollinator Initiative (IPI) was launched at the fifth Conference of the Parties (COP). The IPI aims to support the sustainable use of pollinators in agriculture and related ecosystems. Along with IPI, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) coordinates this initiative and provides technical assistance to countries—such as queen bee breeding, artificial insemination technology, and sustainable solutions for honey production and export. Eco-friendly agricultural practices like agroecology, agroforestry, and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) help pollinators survive, ensuring stable crop production while reducing food shortages and environmental impacts.
This year, to protect bees, the UN has proposed a range of actions, involving individuals, farmers, and policymakers. Individuals can contribute by planting local flowering plants, avoiding harmful chemicals, buying raw honey from local beekeepers, supporting sustainable agriculture, and protecting natural habitats and wild bee nests. Beekeepers and farmers are encouraged to reduce pesticide use and promote crop diversity with bee-friendly plants. Governments and policymakers are urged to involve indigenous communities in environmental decisions, implement supportive policies like eco-friendly incentives, and strengthen collaboration among organizations and researchers to monitor and enhance pollination services.
The author is Advisor at North Bengal Honey Community Enterprise & Research Director of SHISUK
