Second National Dialogue for the preparation of UN Food Systems Summit 2021

Ministry of Food, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, has successfully organized the 2^nd National Dialogue today, on 6 June 2021 jointly with Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN). Due to the increasing COVID-19 surge in Bangladesh, the dialogue has been organized virtually. Mr. Sadhan Chandra Majumder, MP, Honourable Minister, Ministry of Food, has graced the dialogue as the Chief Guest. A total number of 182 guests are welcome by Mr. Md. Shahiduzzaman Faruki, Director General, FPMU, Ministry of Food, where Dr Rudaba Khondker, Country Director- GAIN and Mr. Robert D. Simpson, Country Representative- FAO have shared their insightful thought on how taking initiatives like the UN Food Systems Summit forward can lead to a world with safe and nutritious food for all and how it will work a strong tool to achieve SDGs. The dialogue has Professor Dr. Saleemul Huq (Chair, Action Tracks-5), Director of the International Centre for Climate Change & Development, Mr. Zakir Hossain Akanda, Ex-Member (Ex-Secretary), Agriculture, Water Resources & Rural Institutions Division, Bangladesh Planning Commission, Mr. Rawnak Mahmud, Honourable Secretary, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock and Mr. Md. Mesbahul Islam, Honourable Senior Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture as the Special Guests from who we have got concrete ideas on how Bangladesh Government can align with the summit goal with their existing works. Mr. Md. Hajiqul Islam, Research Director, Food Policy and Monitoring Unit (FPMU) of Ministry of Food has presented the keynote on Bangladesh’s Nutrition Scenario and works that have been done so far in line with the summit as well as the way forward. The dialogue has five issue focused group works on Availability of diversified, safe and nutritious food, Transformation, delivery, access and role of the private sector, Governance, nutrition and food safety, Inclusion, livelihood and social protection and Climate, vulnerability and resilience. Around 182 participants from different UN organizations, I/NGOs, research organizations, academia, civil society, media were present and actively participated in the entire dialogue and made the dialogue effective with their valuable recommendations in respective fields through the groups’ works. The dialogue has been chaired by Dr. Mosammat Nazmanara Khanum, Honorable Secretary, Ministry of Food and concluded with a vote of thanks by Mr. Khaja Abdul Hannan, Convener of National Dialogue & Additional Secretary, Ministry of Food.