Govt imports food to meet possible crisis: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said the government decided to procure food grains from abroad as a precautionary measure to face possible shortage amid speculations of severe flooding in the coming weeks.

"Flood waters by now devastated vast tracks land with standing crops which may take serious turn in the coming days . . . there is a possibility that deluge could grasp more areas in the coming days," she said while addressing the first meeting of the National Nutrition Council (NNC) at her Tejgaon office in Dhaka.

The premier added: "The government is importing food grains to cope with any adverse situation."

Sheikh Hasina laid emphasis on ensuring adequate nutrition for every people alongside ensuring their access to food saying "access to adequate nutrition is a basic right of the people".

The prime minister said Bangladesh constitution stipulated that one of the State's primary duties was to raise people's nutrition level and improve public health status while her government ensured food security for every people and "now it's important to ensure their access to nutrition".