How a US corn consignment became a social media flashpoint in Bangladesh | Explained

Pig manure debate erupts in Bangladesh after US embassy announces corn shipment

• US corn shipment to Bangladesh sparks social media backlash over pig manure use
• Religious sensitivities arise as pig manure is common in US corn farming
• Controversy adds to existing trade tensions between Bangladesh and the US

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A social media controversy has erupted in Bangladesh after the US Embassy in Dhaka announced that American corn was being shipped to the country, triggering debate over agricultural practices and religious sensitivities in the Muslim-majority nation.

While the embassy’s post aimed to highlight food and trade cooperation, online users quickly zeroed in on the use of pig manure as fertiliser in US corn cultivation, turning the announcement into a flashpoint for criticism and mockery.

What sparked the controversy

The US Embassy in Dhaka tweeted earlier this month, "US corn is on its way to Bangladesh this month. Known for its nutritious quality, it serves as a key ingredient in many foods, including staples like cornbread and breakfast cereals. Corn is also used to feed animals, helping to ensure a reliable supply of meat, dairy, and eggs."

Soon after, social media users linked US corn farming to pig manure fertilisation, an issue considered religiously sensitive under Islamic dietary norms.

Social media reaction intensifies

Several users posted sarcastic and critical remarks questioning the import decision.

"For su***** up to the Don (Trump), Bangladesh gets American corn (boosted by pig poop manure), and Pakistan gets to send 'peacekeeping force' to Gaza," a journalist tweeted.

Other posts read, "Made with pig-based fertilizers and mixed woth pig-fat preservatives." "Uncle Sam destroying Bangladesh. They will now eat pig-manured corn." "Now, the Islamists will eat the corn grown with pig faeces. Enjoy," "Poor Bangladeshis are becoming the scapegoats of Trump's malicious food and debt policies,"

The US Embassy has not responded publicly to the backlash so far.

Why pig manure became a flashpoint

Corn farming requires heavy fertilisation, and pig manure is commonly used in US agriculture to boost crop yields. While the practice is standard in American farming, it has sparked outrage in Bangladesh due to religious and cultural sensitivities.

The reaction was amplified by memories of an earlier controversy involving meat and bone meal (MBM), which Bangladesh banned after authorities detected pork-derived products in imported animal feed.

MBM is a powder made by drying and grinding inedible parts of slaughtered animals and was previously imported for use as fish and livestock feed.

Trade tensions form the backdrop

The controversy comes amid strained trade relations between Washington and Dhaka. Bangladesh currently runs a trade deficit of about $6 billion with the United States.

Earlier this year, the US imposed tariffs of up to 37% on Bangladeshi exports, severely affecting the garment and textile sector, which accounts for nearly 80% of the country’s exports. The tariff rate was later revised to 20% after interim chief Muhammad Yunus wrote to US President Donald Trump, pledging to boost imports of American goods, including wheat, corn, and soybeans.

Recently, Bangladesh also approved the purchase of around 220,000 metric tonnes of US wheat under a government-to-government agreement.

US corn exports amid global surplus

The United States has reported a bumper corn harvest this year and has been aggressively seeking export markets. Reports have suggested that excess production forced US farmers to dump unsold corn near highways.

India, another potential market, has resisted large-scale US corn imports, citing concerns over farmer livelihoods. According to Reuters, New Delhi may only allow limited imports for ethanol production.