B'desh ranks lowest in terms of food security in S Asia

Bangladesh has been ranked a lowly 89th, among other South Asian countries, in the recently published Global Food Security Index 2017.

According to Dhaka Tribune, the general secretary of Bangladesh Food Security Network (BFSN), Nurul Alam Masud, disclosed the figure at a press conference at the Dhaka Reporters' Unity in the Bangladeshi capital yesterday.

He said that though the country has gained recognition as lower-middle income country in 2015, it has a very poor food security rank, which has to be improved.

To tackle this issue, BFSN has proposed a six-point recommendation, including the forming of a nationwide Food Security Act.

BFSN President Dr Mohammad Joynul Abedin said, "Most of the countries of the world have the right to food law, but Bangladesh does not. We will draft a law very soon on a priority basis."

Earlier, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had said that the government was devoted to establishing food security in the country in the South-Asian Right to Food Conference (SARFC) held in 2015.

The Global Food Security Index, published by United Nations (UN) ranks countries around the world on the basis of food security. Currently, only 113 countries are ranked accordingly.

Bangladesh's neighbours, Nepal and Myanmar, have been ranked at 81st and 80th positions respectively.

While Pakistan is at 77th rank, India secured the 74th position in the index.

Sri Lanka scored the best in the entire South Asian region, with a rank of 66th.