The World Food Day (WFD) will be observed in Bangladesh as elsewhere in the globe on Wednesday.

The World Food Day 2022 will be observed with the theme “Leave No One behind.”

World Food Day 2022 is being marked in a year with multiple global challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, conflict, climate change, rising prices and international tensions. All of this is affecting global food security, said Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

According to FAO’s recent report on food security and nutrition, the number of people in the world affected by hunger increased in 2020 under the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Around 660 million people may still face hunger in 2030, in part due to lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on global food security – 30 million more people than in a scenario in which the pandemic had not occurred.

Unless bold actions are taken to accelerate progress, especially actions to address major drivers of food insecurity and malnutrition and the inequalities affecting the access of millions to food, hunger will not be eradicated by 2030, said FAO.

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages on the eve of the  day.

The President in his message said, “About 75 percent of poor and people having food insecurity depend on agriculture and natural resources for their livelihoods. There is no alternative to increase agricultural production as food security is at risk currently in the context of rising global inflation due to various reasons including epidemics, conflicts, climate change, and natural disasters”.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina wished overall success of the day saying, “With everyone’s participation we will be able to build a happy, prosperous and developed nation by 2041 by eradicating hunger and poverty through fulfilling nutrition demands.”

World Food Day is celebrated every October 16 to mark the founding of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation in 1945.

Organisations in 150 countries hold events meant to “promote worldwide awareness and action for those who suffer from hunger and for the need to ensure food security and nutritious diets for all.