More foodgrains coming to face challenge: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday again said the government is procuring foodgrains from the international market, aiming to face the challenge caused by the ongoing flood across the country, reports UNB. “We’ve already procured foodgrains from various countries and more are coming to face the challenge,” she said.

The Prime Minister was speaking at the first meeting of Bangladesh National Nutrition Council (BNNC) held at the Prime Minister’s Office.She underscored the need for ensuring adequate nutrition along with ensuring food security to attain the government vision of healthy and productive lives for people.

The Prime Minister laid emphasis on ensuring adequate nutrition for all alongside safeguarding their access to food. “Access to adequate nutrition is a basic right of people.”

Sheikh Hasina also directed the authorities concerned to launch a massive campaign, especially among rural people, about taking balanced and nutritious food.

She said it is not important for people to always eat fish, meat, egg or other costly food, nutrition is available in low price food, and suggested taking adequate quantity of vegetables along with rice every day.

Hasina said adoption of policy for nutrition is not enough; rather people should be made aware about the nutrition values of various foods, including vegetables, meat and fish.

The Prime Minister said Bangladesh has vast areas of marshy lands for fish production, and it is now the fourth in terms of sweet-water fish production.

She said low-income people can also afford fish and meat after buying necessary quantity of rice as their daily income increased by manifolds in the last few years.

Mentioning that her government for the first time attained food security in the country, the Prime Minister said now the aim of her government is to ensure nutrition for all.

She said her government took steadfast steps to improve the nutrition and food security of the country, including the formulation of Second National Plan of Action for Nutrition, which identifies the priority strategic actions that are directed to address the various form of malnutrition affecting its population.

Sheikh Hasina said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman wanted to build a rich nation through ensuring basic rights of all citizens and started working on that direction.

Extending her thanks to the officials concerned to activate the National Nutrition Council, she said Bangabandhu formed the Council in 1975 which did not work after his assassination.

Hasina said her government during its 1996-2001 tenure also constituted the Nutrition Council, but that could not function during BNP-Jamaat regime.

Bangabandhu not only rebuilt the war ravaged country within three and a half an year but also attained more than 7 percent GDP growth, she added.

The meeting of the Council approved the Second National Plan of Action for Nutrition 2016-25 with some specific guidelines of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Health Minister Mohammad Nasim, Agriculture Minister Begum Maria Chowdhury, Food Minister Quamrul Islam, LGRD Minister Engineer Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain, State Minister for health Jahed Malek, State Minister for Women and Children AffairsMeher Afroz Chumki and

secretaries concerned were present at the meeting.

 

 

More foodgrains coming to face challenge: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday again said the government is procuring foodgrains from the international market, aiming to face the challenge caused by the ongoing flood across the country, reports UNB. Weve already procured foodgrains from various countries and more are coming to face the challenge, she said. The Prime Minister was speaking at the first meeting of Bangladesh National Nutrition Council (BNNC) held at the Prime Ministers Office.She underscored the need for ensuring adequate nutrition along with ensuring food security to attain the government vision of healthy and productive lives for people. The Prime Minister laid emphasis on ensuring adequate nutrition for all alongside safeguarding their access to food. Access to adequate nutrition is a basic right of people. Sheikh Hasina also directed the authorities concerned to launch a massive campaign, especially among rural people, about taking balanced and nutritious food. She said it is not important for people to always eat fish, meat, egg or other costly food, nutrition is available in low price food, and suggested taking adequate quantity of vegetables along with rice every day. Hasina said adoption of policy for nutrition is not enough; rather people should be made aware about the nutrition values of various foods, including vegetables, meat and fish. The Prime Minister said Bangladesh has vast areas of marshy lands for fish production, and it is now the fourth in terms of sweet-water fish production. She said low-income people can also afford fish and meat after buying necessary quantity of rice as their daily income increased by manifolds in the last few years. Mentioning that her government for the first time attained food security in the country, the Prime Minister said now the aim of her government is to ensure nutrition for all. She said her government took steadfast steps to improve the nutrition and food security of the country, including the formulation of Second National Plan of Action for Nutrition, which identifies the priority strategic actions that are directed to address the various form of malnutrition affecting its population. Sheikh Hasina said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman wanted to build a rich nation through ensuring basic rights of all citizens and started working on that direction. Extending her thanks to the officials concerned to activate the National Nutrition Council, she said Bangabandhu formed the Council in 1975 which did not work after his assassination. Hasina said her government during its 1996-2001 tenure also constituted the Nutrition Council, but that could not function during BNP-Jamaat regime. Bangabandhu not only rebuilt the war ravaged country within three and a half an year but also attained more than 7 percent GDP growth, she added. The meeting of the Council approved the Second National Plan of Action for Nutrition 2016-25 with some specific guidelines of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Health Minister Mohammad Nasim, Agriculture Minister Begum Maria Chowdhury, Food Minister Quamrul Islam, LGRD Minister Engineer Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain, State Minister for health Jahed Malek, State Minister for Women and Children AffairsMeher Afroz Chumki and secretaries concerned were present at the meeting.