What does food safety look like for families living in Bangladesh’s informal urban settlements?
During the চা-চক্র session on July 12 2026, Dr. Md. Latiful Haque explored how slum dwellers in Bangladesh navigate food safety in their everyday lives. He explained that food choices are shaped not only by concerns about contamination, but also by limited storage, overcrowded homes, and demanding work schedules. As a result, many households rely on trusted informal vendors and everyday experience to manage food safety risks. He also highlighted how existing food safety policies often fail to reflect the realities of informal markets, overlooking both urban poor consumers and the vendors they depend on.
Dr. Haque is an assistant professor at Southeast University. His research focuses on environmental policy, food systems governance, urban informal markets, poverty, and social inclusion in developing countries.
