Published: 12:04 AM, 16 April 2026
WFP delegation meets social welfare minister
A five-member high-level delegation from the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) on Wednesday paid a courtesy call on Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs Minister Abu Zafar Md. Zahid Hossain (MP) discusses social protection in Bangladesh.
The meeting was held at the Jatiya Sangsad (JS) Secretariat office of the minister, according to a press release of the social welfare ministry.
During the meeting, both sides discussed opportunities for deeper collaboration, particularly in areas such as nutrition support for poor mothers, health and education for children, inclusive development for persons with disabilities, and food assistance programs for those affected by climate change-related disasters.
Both parties expressed optimism that the meeting would pave the way for enhanced future cooperation.
The Minister elaborated on the government's ongoing initiatives in social safety net programs, women and child development, food security, and nutrition improvement for poor and vulnerable communities.
He emphasized that the current government remains committed to implementing its electoral manifesto and is actively working to improve the living standards of marginalized populations across the country.
Highlighting women's empowerment as a key priority, the Minister stated that ensuring women's rights, dignity, and economic independence is central to achieving national development and social justice.
As part of this commitment, the government has already distributed 37,814 family cards in a pilot phase within just 21 days of forming the government.
This initiative targets female heads of households and is based on National ID (NID) data to build a comprehensive beneficiary database. The program is expected to gradually expand to cover 40 million families nationwide.
The Minister praised the longstanding partnership between Bangladesh and WFP, noting the organization's vital role in providing food assistance, nutrition support, and emergency relief to disaster-affected and vulnerable populations.
He reiterated the government's priority to enhance the well-being of women, children, and marginalized communities while ensuring food security for all.
WFP Country Director Simone Parchment thanked the Minister and commended the government for its strong social protection system and initiatives supporting women and children.
The delegation expressed its commitment to working more closely with the government to address food security in the country.
The meeting was also attended by Secretary of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs Yasmeen Parveen, Joint Secretary Md. Firoz Uddin Khalifa, and other senior officials.
