Stop war, stop politics over food: Hasina

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday once again called for stopping the Russia-Ukraine war, blaming the conflict for disrupting the global food supplies leading to increased cost of food.

She made the appeal in a keynote speech at the five-day World Food Forum-2022 at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in Rome, Italy, reports UNB.

The theme of this year's WFF (October 17-21) is "Healthy Diets, Healthy Planet".

Speaking virtually from the Gono Bhaban, Hasina said over 800 million people or 10 percent of the world's population are estimated to go to bed hungry regularly.

"Things have now become worse with the Ukraine war, and subsequent sanctions and counter-sanctions, which have disrupted global food supplies and raised the cost of food," she said.

Hasina said she had repeatedly appealed to the international community to stop war, stop politics with food, and stop wastage of food.

"If, on the other hand, a fraction of the money invested on manufacturing weapons was spent on food production and distribution, no one would go hungry in this world.

"Instead, please ensure food supply to areas of food shortage, and famine. As human beings, we must believe that everyone has a right to survive with food and have a decent life."

She stated that "In real sense, there is no dearth of food in our planet. The scarcity is simply manmade".

In another event, Hasina yesterday reiterated her call to work together to produce more food and save Bangladesh from a possible global famine or food crisis against the backdrop of the Russia-Ukraine war, adds BSS.

"I again request you all not to waste food and increase food production. Bring every inch of land under cultivation. Protect Bangladesh from the possible global famine and food deficit-like situations. I believe it is definitely possible with efforts from all," she said.

The PM was addressing a function marking the World Food Day-2022 at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital.

Virtually joining the event, organised by the agriculture ministry, from the Gono Bhaban, Hasina said international organisations have forecasted that the world is going to face famine and food crisis in the days to come.

"We all have to be alert from now on ... . The government and private organisations have a lot of land. Cultivate food grains whatever you can utilising every inch of abandoned land."

The premier said if all give attention to producing food, Bangladesh would not face any food crisis even if the world is hit by the famine hard.

In that case, Hasina said Bangladesh would be able to extend its helping hands to the possible famine-hit countries by giving food assistance.

Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder, Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim and Chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on the agriculture ministry and its former minister Matia Chowdhury addressed the programme.

Agriculture Secretary Md Sayedul Islam gave the address of welcome.

A documentary on the World Food Day and the government's efforts for development of the agriculture sector was screened at the function.

The World Food Day-2022 was observed on Sunday in the country and elsewhere in the world.

Hasina also stressed the need for properly preserving the produced food, particularly the perishable agri-products, and establishing food processing industries in the 100 special economic zones being set up across the country.

She said Bangladesh is now concentrating on becoming self-reliant in producing edible oil.

The Awami League government has brought 80,000 hectares of abandoned land under the cultivation process, she said.

Hasina said her government has taken various measures, including enacting laws, establishing food testing laboratories, observing national safe food day, introducing instant screening system and engaging mobile courts to ensure safe food for the countrymen.