Aid agencies need to work hard to reduce poverty

---

Visiting USAID deputy assistant administrator for Asia Margot Ellis Sunday said the development agencies like USAID should work hard in Bangladesh not only to ensure food security but also to help stimulate economic growth to reduce poverty.
"Increase in prices of food pushed more and more people to poverty," she said, talking to newsmen at the American Club in the city. Ellis, who was appointed to the current post in July this year, arrived here Sunday morning on a three-day visit to Bangladesh to review the progress of US-supported development projects in Bangladesh, reports UNB.
The USAID is providing US$ 176 million in development assistance and food aid to Bangladesh in 2008. Replying to a question, Ellis said President-elect Obama has pledged to double the US foreign assistance worldwide. However, it would depend on the Congress.
USAID Bangladesh mission director Denise Rollins supplemented that the US assistance for Bangladesh was unlikely to decline in the days ahead.
"We can argue for increased assistance as we always do," she said adding that the USAID Bangladesh would like to increase the development assistance but it depends on the Congress.
During the three-day trip, Ellis would visit a USAID-funded clinic and a HIV/AIDS prevention programme and would also meet the Imams, who are participating in a programme that expected to help religious and secular leaders promote development in their communities.
She would also meet the implementation partners, who are providing trained election observers, to discuss ongoing efforts to assist in preparations for parliamentary elections.