ZCZC
BSS–38
BANGLADESH-FAO-MEMBER
Bangladesh nominated as FAO council member
DHAKA, June 18, 2021 (BSS) – Bangladesh has been nominated council member of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), said an official release here today.
Bangladesh also has been nominated member of the credential committee of the specialized UN agency.
The decision was taken at the current 42nd conference of the FAO as the conference was held virtually due to the corona virus pandemic from June 14 to 18.
An eight-member Bangladesh representative group led by Agriculture Minister Dr M Abdur Razzaque participated in the conference.
Senior Agriculture Secretary M Meshbahul Islam, Additional Secretary M Ruhul Amin Talukder, Joint Secretary Tajkera Khatun, Deputy Secretary Ali Akber and Deputy Secretary of the Economic Relations Division (ERD) Bidhan Boral, among others, participated in the conference from Dhaka.
Bangladesh Ambassador to Italy Shamim Ahsan and Economic Councillor Manosh Mitra participated in the conference from Rome.
Earlier on the second day of the conference on June 15, Agriculture Minister Dr M Abdur Razzaque highlighted Bangladesh’s position on the State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA) virtually in the session.
The minister also gave joint statement on behalf of 46 countries in Asia and Pacific Region (APRC) while addressing the afternoon session on the same day.
“Bangladesh has achieved tremendous success in food security and nutrition development resulting in people’s easy accessibility to food and malnutrition has reduced by two-thirds in the last one decade,” said the minister in his address on SOFA.
At the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the minister said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has taken quick initiatives to ensure peoples food security and increase food production along with continuous supply of food.
In addition to this, he said special incentive package of Taka 5,000 crore has also been announced to tackle the pandemic effects in the agriculture sector. “Various incentives were provided to bring every inch of land under cultivation for raising crop production,” he told the conference.
In the joint statement on behalf of the APRC, the minister urged the FAO to come with integrated programme to tackle the after effects of the COVID-19 in the food and agriculture sectors.
“FAO should have to raise its assistance by giving importance on sustainable and nutritious food management, digital innovation, climate change stress tolerant technology, reduction of food wastage and safe food,” he said.
The minister also urged the FAO to form a high-profile platform for well management and distribution of water in the Asia-Pacific region.
BSS/PR/OG/KU/1919 HRS