Executive Director of the Rome-based World Food Program (WFP) David Beasley has praised Bangladesh’s outstanding achievements in various fields over the past decade.
He made the remarks when Shamim Ahsan, Bangladesh Ambassador to Italy and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the WFP, handed over his letter of credentials to the UN food agency’s chief, the foreign ministry said on Thursday.
Ambassador Ahsan thanked the Executive Director for formally accepting him as the Permanent Representative of the WFP and for his high views on Bangladesh's achievements.
He praised the WFP's executive director's “dynamic leadership” for securing a record amount of international assistance in 2020 despite the pandemic and receiving the WFP's Nobel Peace Prize in 2020.
Describing the WFP's activities in Bangladesh as “multidimensional, long-term and highly effective”, he briefed the Executive Director on the government's financial support and direct involvement in the 'School Feeding Program' and 'Fortified Rice'.
He also praised the WFP's “unprecedented” support and “important role” in the Rohingya issue and called on the Executive Director to put pressure on the Myanmar government through the WFP Executive Board to ensure “safe and dignified” repatriation of the Rohingya people to their homeland.
The WFP Executive Director mentioned that he visited Bangladesh several times to observe the Rohingya situation.
He also commended the role of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in providing all possible assistance to the Rohingya people.
Both sides pledged to work together to tackle hunger and poverty in the days to come.
