DHAKA, March 21, 2024 (BSS) - World Food Programme (WFP) Country Representative Domenico Scalpelli and UN Women Country Representative Gitanjali Singh today called on Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud. 

During the two separate meetings, the foreign minister discussed UN cooperation on food management and women development in Bangladesh.  

Hasan invited the representative of the World Food Programme to undertake seminar and motivational programmes encouraging people to consume crops and food produced in the country and increase public awareness.

He also said there is no alternative to maximum use of arable land to maintain self-sufficiency in food grains and food security in Bangladesh, which has the highest population density and the lowest per capita land in the world.

The minister advised WFP to take innovative measures to avoid the loss of arable land.

WFP Country Representative Domenico Scalpelli said he would give utmost importance to the issues.
He presented to the minister the future plans of his organisationtion’s food programme at the school level and for the Rohingyas.

The foreign minister praised the school feeding program that has been running since 2011 and later WFP's food aid program for the Rohingya.

In the meeting, with the UN Women Country Representative, the foreign minister highlighted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's firm commitment and her government's achievements in gender equality and women's empowerment.

He also highlighted the remarkable progress that Bangladesh has made in empowering women in the political and administrative spheres.

The minister praised UN Women for being a trusted partner in this development journey.

UN Women Country Representative Bangladesh Gitanjali Singh assured to increase UN Women's cooperation with Bangladesh and congratulated the government for implementing its firm commitment.

 The representative also informed the foreign minister about preparations for celebrating the 30th anniversary of the 'Beijing Declaration' and the silver jubilee of the historic Resolution 1325 in 2025.