Dhaka, July 27 (bdnews24.com) – Steps are being taken to activate the 'SAARC Food Bank' in a bid to ensure food security in member countries.
The next meeting of the organisation, to be held at Dhaka on Oct 27-28, will decide on the next course of action.
Food minister Abdur Razzaque revealed this on Tuesday at a meeting regarding preparation for the 'SAARC Food Bank' meeting at the food and disaster management ministry's conference room.
The upcoming meeting is to be attended by representatives from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Maldives, Bhutan, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
He also said that all problems regarding the food bank's activation would be solved in the meeting.
Elaborating on the food bank's purpose, Razzaque said, "It will provide regional support to national food security efforts, foster inter-country partnerships and regional integration, and solve regional food shortages through collective action."
He also said that activation of the regional food bank was halted for the last three years due to various problems related to transportation systems, price and quality of rice.
Disaster management secretary Mokhlesur Rahman, food department acting secretary Baron Dev Mitra, director general Ahmed Hossain Khan and other related officials participated in the meeting headed by the food minister.
The agreement to establish the food bank was adopted by the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) during the 14th summit in New Delhi in April 2007.
The decision to form such a food bank to ensure food assistance or food supply in food crisis or natural calamities of the member countries was taken in the 2005 summit held at Dhaka.
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