Bangladesh new WFP board member

Bangladesh has been elected member of the World Food Programme’s executive body, the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger for next three years (2016-2018).

The election was held at the UN headquarters on Tuesday and all UN member states unanimously elected Bangladesh as a member of the executive board, according to a message received from New York.

The Executive Board is WFP's governing body with 36 State Members of the United Nations or Member Nations of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The Board provides inter-governmental support for policy direction and supervision of the activities of WFP.

Through this election, the world community's confidence on Bangladesh's development in agriculture sector has been boosted, read the message.

According to the press release, the outcome was a recognition Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s leadership over the last seven years as the country has achieved massive success in the area of agriculture and food production.

“Bangladesh has achieved food security and self-sufficiency in food the sector despite a rise in population and reduction of arable land as the country has implemented many pro-agriculture development initiatives since 2009. Through achieving this confidence from the world, Bangladesh will feel more inspired for further development in the agriculture sector,” it read.

Bangladesh has also started exporting rice while the export volume of other agriculture products is on the rise.

The country has witnessed establishment of agro-based industry while the food-grains production now reached 4 crore tonnes a year.

The government says rural poverty has significantly dropped in recent years while production of fish, poultry and milk products has increased.