United News of Bangladesh

Approximately 15.3 million people in Bangladesh - around 15 percent of the analysed population - are experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity between May and August 2026, including about 483,000 people facing emergency conditions, according to a new analysis shared on Thursday. The situation is projected to deteriorate further between September and December 2026, when the number of people facing acute food insecurity is expected to rise to 18.1 million, including 787,000 people in emergency conditions. The Ministry of Food, together with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), Action Against Hunger, Save the Children and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), recently convened a high-level dissemination workshop in Dhaka to launch and discuss the findings of the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Acute Food Insecurity Analysis for Bangladesh. The workshop was organized under the leadership of the Food Planning and Monitoring Unit (FPMU) of the Ministry of Food and brought together senior government officials, development and humanitarian partners, academia and civil society representatives. The analysis identified some of the highest levels of acute food insecurity in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, the Haor region, selected coastal districts, and among the displaced Rohingya population living in Cox's Bazar and Bhasan Char. "Bangladesh is committed to using evidence-based analysis to guide policies and investments that protect food security and strengthen resilience. The IPC findings will help us target resources more effectively and reinforce our collective efforts to support vulnerable communities facing increasing climate and economic pressures," said State Minister for Food Md. Abdul Bari. Food Secretary Abu Taher Md. Masud Rana said evidence-based and data-driven decision-making is essential for effective policymaking. "I hope the findings of this IPC report will serve as a valuable resource for policymakers, development partners, and humanitarian agencies in designing targeted interventions, strengthening food and nutrition security, and enhancing the resilience of vulnerable populations in Bangladesh,” he said. Secretary (Director General), NGO Affairs Bureau, Prime Minister’s Office Dr. Mohammed Jakaria said food security cannot be achieved by one institution alone and it requires a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach. "The NGO Affairs Bureau remains committed to supporting constructive partnerships with NGOs, development partners, UN agencies, research institutions, and government bodies to advance food security, nutrition, resilience, and sustainable development in Bangladesh,” Jakaria said. The report highlights a range of drivers behind the worsening food security situation, including adverse climatic conditions, floods, inflation, rising fuel and food prices, global supply chain disruptions and broader economic challenges affecting household purchasing power. Without timely interventions, these pressures are likely to further reduce access to sufficient and nutritious food for millions of people. Participants discussed key recommendations from the analysis, including scaling up life-saving food assistance, expanding shock-responsive social protection, strengthening climate-resilient agriculture, supporting livelihood recovery, and investing in disaster preparedness and early warning systems. "The findings highlight the urgent need to strengthen the resilience of agriculture and food systems, particularly in areas exposed to recurrent floods, cyclones and other climate-related shocks. Emphasizing on emergency agriculture strategy and investing in climate-smart agriculture, sustainable livelihoods and local food production is critical not only to address immediate food insecurity, but also to protect vulnerable communities from future crises," said Dr Jiaoqun Shi, Representative, FAO. "The IPC analysis is particularly valuable because it helps us identify the communities most vulnerable to food insecurity before shocks deepen their impact. Many of the areas highlighted in this analysis are the same areas currently facing heavy rainfall and flooding, particularly in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, where WFP has activated anticipatory action and supported the Government's shock-responsive social protection response," said Coco Ushiyama, Representative and Country Director, WFP. "Beyond informing emergency response, the IPC strengthens the systems we rely on to anticipate crises, target assistance more effectively, and build resilience among vulnerable communities." The Ministry of Food and its partners reaffirmed their commitment to continued collaboration to address immediate food insecurity needs, strengthen resilience to future shocks, and support Bangladesh's efforts to achieve sustainable food security for all.