Bangladesh, India to Work Together to Boost Food Production

On Wednesday, Bangladesh and India agreed to work together to raise food production in order to tackle the imminent food shortage triggered by the coronavirus pandemic.

Their determination to function together came when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi phoned Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheik Hasina in the afternoon.

Throughout the 12-minute telephone call, which ended at 5:50 p.m., both leaders noted that their countries had taken measures to improve food development to tackle the imminent food shortage caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Prime Minister Ihsanul Karim told the media that the two leaders decided to work together to this end, if possible.

Sheik Hasina said that numerous international bodies, including the United Nations, have voiced their apprehension that the situation may persist.

"So, all the countries of the region will've to work in unison to deal with the situation," she said. 

The two leaders appreciated the steps taken by both the countries to combat the pandemic and reiterated their commitment to work together for this purpose.

The two leaders also agreed to take forward the initiatives taken by the SARRC countries to combat COVID-19 in a videoconference held last month following the outbreak of coronavirus.

Sheik Hasina has extended thanks to Narendra Modi for sending drugs and other medical supplies to Bangladesh to counter the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The Indian Prime Minister phoned Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina around 5:50 pm and extended Bangla Nabo Barsho and Ramadan greetings to her and the people of Bangladesh," Ihsanul Karim said. 

"The Bangladesh prime minister also extended Ramadan greetings to Narendra Modi and the people of India," the press secretary said.

The Indian prime minister paid tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on the occasion of his birth centenary, he added.

Source: UNB