The Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud urged the World Food Programme (WFP) to conduct a programme on raising public awareness about healthier food habits and consumption of locally produced agricultural products and on efficient and sustainable use of arable lands. He requested while the Country Director of
UN World Food Programme (WFP) Mr. Domenico Scalpelli called on him at his office today. Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister appreciated WFP for its sustained life-saving support for the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals (Rohingya) temporarily sheltered in Bangladesh in both Cox’s Bazar and Bhashan Char. Appreciating WFP for partially restoring the ration to US$10 per person per month and adding locally fortified rice into the assistance package, he requested to further increase the ration to cope with price hike globally.
The Country Director appreciated the remarkable improvement of the food production capacity of Bangladesh and the role of agricultural science and technology in this regard. The Foreign Minister also expressed satisfaction with the positive results from the school feeding programme supported by WFP since 2011. The Country Director has informed that a new school feeding programme with local nutritious food items is in the pipeline to be implemented. The Country Director also confirmed the WFP’s readiness to work together with the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, Ministry of Primary and Mass Education and Ministry of Food. Foreign Minister assured Mr. Scalpelli of all our assistances during his tenure of office in Dhaka.