Food Security: Delay Will Only Increase Risk

A RECENT report by the UN World Food Programme (WFP) warns that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz—triggered by a potential war in the Middle East—could plunge approximately 18.1 million people in Bangladesh into a severe food crisis.

We know that the country’s agriculture relies heavily on imported fertilizers and fuel.

In particular, a significant portion of the widely used urea fertilizer has to be imported from that war-torn region.

Meanwhile, its price in the international market has risen by 50 percent; on the other hand, production at three of the country’s five state-owned urea factories has been halted due to a gas crisis.

If the war drags on, not only will fertilizer prices move beyond the reach of farmers, but supplies could also be cut off entirely.

Therefore, there is no alternative to treating this warning from the United Nations with the utmost urgency.

Notably, the country’s current urea stocks are sufficient to last only until October.

This implies there is significant cause for concern regarding the upcoming Aman and Boro seasons.

Meanwhile, the UN’s global report titled ‘The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2026’, released last Tuesday, stated that during the 2023–25 period, 26.2 percent of Bangladesh’s total population—approximately 45.4 million people—faced moderate or severe food insecurity.

In other words, even before the war, a vast number of people in the country were unable to secure regular and adequate food.

According to the report, 14.3 million people in the country are simultaneously suffering from hunger caused by malnutrition.

Furthermore, the report indicates that 38.6 percent of the population—approximately 67.8 million people—lack the financial means to purchase a healthy diet.

The United Nations defines a balanced diet that meets an individual’s daily energy requirement of 2,330 kilocalories as a “healthy diet basket.”

The coverage of social safety net programs for low-income individuals needs to be expanded.

An integrated and effective plan is also urgently required to address nutritional deficiencies and ensure access to healthy food for all.

If necessary, special initiatives must be undertaken by identifying the population groups currently deprived in these areas.

We believe that in this reality, the government will have to make coordinated preparations now.

Efforts will have to be increased to ensure adequate stock of agricultural inputs, including urea fertilizer.

In addition, there is no alternative to initiatives to maintain production through affordable irrigation systems, improved seeds and agricultural extension services.

Increasing the government stock of food grains, and strengthening food distribution programs at fair prices is the need of the time.