Dhaka, 16 October marked the annual World Food Day celebrations on the theme of Agriculture and Social Protection. The day’s events began with a rally from the parliament to the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council with around 1200 participants.

The Honourable Ministers of Agriculture and of Planning then opened the World Food Day exhibition, featuring 24 stalls including recent achievements by Government institutions, private sector activities and a stall highlighting aspects of the programme of FAO Bangladesh – this year focusing on nutrition and dietary diversity, and an Italian Cooperation funded livelihoods programme in Mymensingh and Sherpur with a social protection component. The stall also showed winning entries of the Bangladesh WFD poster competition, one of which is a finalist in the global competition. The minister of agriculture showed particular interest in the new dietary diversity food plate.

The main event of the celebration was the WFD seminar, with a keynote by Professor Dr. Md. Shams-Ud-Din, Vice-Chancellor, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, attended by over 400 government officials, scientists and academics.

Mr Mike Robson, FAO Representative in Bangladesh made some introductory remarks, and showed the short video on Agriculture and Social protection in South West Bangladesh. The event concluded with speeches by AHM Mustafa Kamal, Hon'ble Planning Minister and Ms Begum Matia Chowdhury,Hon'ble Agriculture Minister.

Media Links:

The Daily Star

The Daily Star: World Food Day today http://archive.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=206684

"Number of undernourished people in Bangladesh remains static"http://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/hunger-situation-remains-static-157813

WORLD FOOD DAY-HEAD TO HEAD: http://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/hunger-situation-remains-static-157813

The Daily Prothom-Alo

"Strong in food security, poor in nutritionhttp" http://en.prothom-alo.com/bangladesh/news/82821/BD-strong-in-food-security-poor-in-nutrition