Abstract

The cornerstone of the economy of Bangladesh is its agriculture, which relies heavily on synthetic pesticides and fertilizers to meet food demands for its 180 million population. However, this escalation has led to severe public health and environmental challenges. Pesticide misuse, coupled with inadequate safety measures and lax regulations, results in acute poisoning, chronic health issues like carcinogenesis, and ecological harm, including soil degradation and water contamination. Approximately 29% of vegetables in Bangladesh contain pesticide residues, with 73% exceeding safe limits, posing significant risks to consumers. Biofertilizers, utilizing beneficial microorganisms like Azotobacter and Rhizobium, offer a sustainable alternative by enhancing soil fertility, promoting plant growth, and reducing chemical dependency. This minireview focuses on the health and environmental impacts of pesticide overuse in Bangladesh and highlights the potential of biofertilizers to mitigate these risks, advocating for policy reforms, research, and awareness to ensure sustainable agriculture and public health safety.

Key words: Pesticides contamination, Health risks, Food safety, Biofertilizers, Biopesticides, Bacterial biofertilizer, Soil fertility.