He was delivering a lecture on 'Agriculture and eradication of food deprivation in rural Bangladesh' organised by the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh in the city to mark its 53rd founding anniversary.

"Four decades of planned development works from sixties have hardly helped us in eradicating food deprivation," Prof Hossain said.

Quoting different survey reports, he said at least 75 percent of the rural people are unable to have access to a standard amount of 2150 calories.

Prof Hossain said three conclusions could be drawn about food deprivation situation in Bangladesh as per those surveys.

Firstly, average level of food and calorie intake in the rural areas is much less than what the people need.

Secondly, food and calorie intake level is found to be declining over time.

And thirdly, the percentage of households suffering from food deprivation in the rural areas has been going up during last few decades.

He said though foreign trade and banking sector including some other areas have thrived over last couple of decades, common men's access to resource has not increased.

"Poverty alleviation is not possible with the micro-credit programme," Prof Hossain said, adding that food producers have to be provided with adequate 'inputs' in time.

Scholars, university teachers and top government officials were present at the lecture chaired by society President Prof Emajuddin Ahmed.