Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has inspected a mobile laboratory designed to test food samples and strengthen efforts to detect adulterated and unsafe food.

The prime minister visited the mobile laboratory on Wednesday morning before entering his office at the Secretariat, according to Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu.

During the visit, Tarique Rahman entered the laboratory van, located beneath the Prime Minister’s Office at the Cabinet Division, and observed the procedures for collecting and testing food samples. Officials briefed him on the laboratory’s operations.

They informed the prime minister that food sample testing and monitoring activities were being strengthened as part of anti-adulteration drives across the country’s 64 districts.

Currently, mobile laboratories are being used to test food samples and monitor food safety in eight metropolitan areas. Authorities plan to expand the programme gradually to all 64 districts.

The operations are being conducted separately through mobile courts led by executive magistrates and under the supervision of the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority.

As part of efforts to strengthen the authority’s capacity during the 2026–27 fiscal year, the government is undertaking a programme to procure 72 mobile laboratory vans.

The vehicles are also equipped with facilities to raise public awareness about food safety. Monitors installed on the exterior of the vans display educational videos on safe food practices.

Food Minister Afroza Khanam, Chief Whip of the ruling party Nurul Islam, State Minister for Food Abdul Bari, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister A. B. M. Abdus Sattar, Public Administration Secretary Kamruzzaman Chowdhury and senior officials from the Ministry of Food were present during the inspection.