Minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Dipen Dewan has called upon the World Food Programme (WFP) to play a more effective role in ensuring sustainable food security and improving living standards for the people of the hill districts.
During a meeting with a WFP delegation at the Bangladesh Secretariat on Thursday, the minister said the current government is placing greater emphasis on imparting technical skills to young men and women in the region instead of traditional relief efforts.
Dipen Dewan said WFP’s technical assistance is highly necessary to ensure the digital management and transparency of the government’s social safety net programmes.
He also requested initiatives for rapid food assistance during emergencies in remote hilly areas where communication systems are poor, the minister said.
The WFP delegation was led by Country Director Simone Parchment. Other members included Senior Partnership Advisor Md Mohsin, Deputy Head of Programme Mabibeth Black, Head of Operations Hafiza Khan, and Programme Policy Officer Sumitra Chakma.
Secretary of the Hill Tracts Affairs Ministry Mohammad Mizanur Rahman and senior ministry officials were also present.
The WFP delegation praised the government’s initiatives for the development of the hill districts and assured close cooperation with the ministry on food security and skills development in the future.
