CA calls for 'Global Food Bank'
Sunday, 28 September 2008
UNITED NATIONS, (bdnews24.com) - Chief adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed has urged the world to consider the possibility of creating a Global Food Bank and stressed on food security, democracy and development for least developed countries.
Such a mechanism, he told the United Nations General Assembly , would allow countries facing a short-term production deficit to borrow food grains on preferential terms.
After overcoming the shortfall, those countries could return the quantum to the bank
"These issues are inextricably linked to one another, and are of fundamental importance to the welfare of the citizens if Bangladesh and as well as of other LDCs," Fakhruddin told the 63rd UNGA Friday.
"We have witnessed during the course of this year an extra-ordinary rise in food and energy prices, which has undermined the food security of many least developed economies.
"This experience should strengthen our resolve to look for long-term solutions for a world free of hunger."
Fakhruddin said food security in today's world was a "moral imperative", and not just a "development imperative".
He said food insecurity could disrupt the core of a democratic policy and derail development priorities.
The recent rise in global food prices had severely impacted Bangladesh, as domestic rice prices had spiked by nearly 60 percent during the year through February 2007.
This had occurred against the backdrop of two devastating floods and a tropical cyclone that had devastated one of the country's key harvests.
"The recent global rise in food prices has been acutely felt in Bangladesh, even though imports account for a small percentage of our cereal consumption."
He warned that situation would return, perhaps with greater intensity and frequency, unless the international community put short- and long-term measures in place to prevent the recurrence.
Food insecurity was measured by increased instability, as well as deprivation, and making food available for all at affordable prices was a cardinal responsibility for all governments, Fakhruddin said.
On democracy and corruption, he said his administration announced a roadmap for staging a truly democratic election, soon after assuming office in January 2007. This was no easy task, as decades of corruption had seriously undermined the country's democracy and economy.
The fight against corruption was the first step in a long and difficult process, and the government would continue to work under the auspices of the independent Anti-Corruption Commission.
The government electronically registered more than 80 million voters with photographs and fingerprints in 11 months, and the Election Commission trained more than 500,000 election workers.
Meanwhile, UNB adds: UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon Friday said Bangladesh may become the lead country of the proposed International Stabilizing Force for Somalia.
The formation of International Stabilising Force for Somalia, a multinational force, remains under consideration.
The UN Secretary General expressed the view during a meeting with Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed at his UN Secretariat office at the UN Headquarters.
The Chief Adviser said the government would look into the matter positively.
Ban Ki-moon said details of the international stabilizing force for Somalia would be discussed during his expected visit to Bangladesh on November 1.
The UN Secretary General appreciated the role of Bangladesh peacekeepers in UN missions and hoped that Dhaka would continue to send peacekeepers to the UN missions.
UN millennium development goals (MDGs), food security, election, climate change and socio-economic progress were discussed during the meeting.
Fakhruddin said Bangladesh's commitment in attaining the MDGs is continuing and the country is on the track. MDGs have been achieved in many areas, he added.
Ban Ki-moon said achieving MDGs by Bangladesh would be symbolic and an example for all UN member countries.
Fakhruddin said that the UN Secretary General during his visit to Bangladesh would see for himself the socio-economic progress and the success achieved by the country.
Despite two successive floods and powerful cyclone Sidr, Bangladesh overcame the situation by its own resources, he said and mentioned the farmers' extraordinary performance in producing bumper crop and food with the necessary input support by the government.
Such a mechanism, he told the United Nations General Assembly , would allow countries facing a short-term production deficit to borrow food grains on preferential terms.
After overcoming the shortfall, those countries could return the quantum to the bank
"These issues are inextricably linked to one another, and are of fundamental importance to the welfare of the citizens if Bangladesh and as well as of other LDCs," Fakhruddin told the 63rd UNGA Friday.
"We have witnessed during the course of this year an extra-ordinary rise in food and energy prices, which has undermined the food security of many least developed economies.
"This experience should strengthen our resolve to look for long-term solutions for a world free of hunger."
Fakhruddin said food security in today's world was a "moral imperative", and not just a "development imperative".
He said food insecurity could disrupt the core of a democratic policy and derail development priorities.
The recent rise in global food prices had severely impacted Bangladesh, as domestic rice prices had spiked by nearly 60 percent during the year through February 2007.
This had occurred against the backdrop of two devastating floods and a tropical cyclone that had devastated one of the country's key harvests.
"The recent global rise in food prices has been acutely felt in Bangladesh, even though imports account for a small percentage of our cereal consumption."
He warned that situation would return, perhaps with greater intensity and frequency, unless the international community put short- and long-term measures in place to prevent the recurrence.
Food insecurity was measured by increased instability, as well as deprivation, and making food available for all at affordable prices was a cardinal responsibility for all governments, Fakhruddin said.
On democracy and corruption, he said his administration announced a roadmap for staging a truly democratic election, soon after assuming office in January 2007. This was no easy task, as decades of corruption had seriously undermined the country's democracy and economy.
The fight against corruption was the first step in a long and difficult process, and the government would continue to work under the auspices of the independent Anti-Corruption Commission.
The government electronically registered more than 80 million voters with photographs and fingerprints in 11 months, and the Election Commission trained more than 500,000 election workers.
Meanwhile, UNB adds: UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon Friday said Bangladesh may become the lead country of the proposed International Stabilizing Force for Somalia.
The formation of International Stabilising Force for Somalia, a multinational force, remains under consideration.
The UN Secretary General expressed the view during a meeting with Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed at his UN Secretariat office at the UN Headquarters.
The Chief Adviser said the government would look into the matter positively.
Ban Ki-moon said details of the international stabilizing force for Somalia would be discussed during his expected visit to Bangladesh on November 1.
The UN Secretary General appreciated the role of Bangladesh peacekeepers in UN missions and hoped that Dhaka would continue to send peacekeepers to the UN missions.
UN millennium development goals (MDGs), food security, election, climate change and socio-economic progress were discussed during the meeting.
Fakhruddin said Bangladesh's commitment in attaining the MDGs is continuing and the country is on the track. MDGs have been achieved in many areas, he added.
Ban Ki-moon said achieving MDGs by Bangladesh would be symbolic and an example for all UN member countries.
Fakhruddin said that the UN Secretary General during his visit to Bangladesh would see for himself the socio-economic progress and the success achieved by the country.
Despite two successive floods and powerful cyclone Sidr, Bangladesh overcame the situation by its own resources, he said and mentioned the farmers' extraordinary performance in producing bumper crop and food with the necessary input support by the government.