Global Hunger Index 2019: Bangladesh 88th out of 117 countries

DHAKA (The Daily Star/ANN) - The index is a global annual report which indicates the overall hunger situation across the world.

Although Bangladesh is making gradual progress in terms of hunger reduction, the country is still on the list of states where the hunger situation is serious, according to Global Hunger Index 2019.

Bangladesh has ranked 88th -- with a score of 25.8 -- among 117 nations around the world.

The countries which scored between 20-34.9 have been placed in the “serious” category, said the report.

Bangladesh ranked 88th in 2017 and 86th in 2018, but its scores were higher -- respectively 26.5 and 26.1.

A lower score indicates a lower level of hunger.

Two international non-government organisations -- Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe -- prepared the index, which was globally launched on October 15.

The Bangladesh part was specially unveiled in a ceremony at Cirdap auditorium in the capital yesterday.

Concern Worldwide, Welthungerhilfe and Helvetas Bangladesh, another international NGO, organised the event.

The index is a global annual report which indicates the overall hunger situation across the world. It was prepared based on scores under four indicators -- undernourishment, child wasting (being underweight), child stunting and child mortality.

Reviewing the report findings, experts said Bangladesh is progressing, but the rate of progress is slow and not satisfactory.

The country should work on making progress faster if it wants to bring down hunger from serious to moderate level.

“Bangladesh’s performance in reducing hunger is better than some of our neighbouring countries, like India and Pakistan, but the progress is still not satisfactory,” said AKM Musha, country director of Concern Worldwide in Bangladesh.

According to the index, issues related to hunger are lowest in 17 countries including Belarus, Cuba, Kuwait and Turkey, as all of them scored less than five.

In his observation, Shah Nawaz, director general of Bangladesh National Nutrition Council, said the country’s performance would have been better if the report was prepared based on latest data.

Speaking as chief guest at the programme, Agriculture Minister Abdur Razzaque said poverty and low per capita income are the main causes behind the country’s hunger situation not improving faster.

Source(s)

  • Global Hunger Index 2019: Bangladesh 88th out of 117 countries

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