Staff Reporter :
Bangladesh’s ranking in the Global Hunger Index (GHI) has dropped, now standing 84th out of 127 countries with a score of 19.4, classified as “moderate.”
According to the Global Hunger Index 2024, 11.9 percent of Bangladesh’s population remains undernourished, underscoring ongoing challenges in addressing food insecurity and malnutrition.
The GHI report, which was released yesterday at an event in Dhaka, shows that 23.6 percent of children under five are stunted, and 11.0 percent are wasted. These figures highlight the urgent need for accelerated efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal of zero hunger.
The Global Hunger Index categorises countries into five levels: low (<9.9), moderate (10-19.9), serious (20-34.9), alarming (35-49.9), and extremely alarming (>50). Bangladesh’s score of 19.4 places it in the “moderate” hunger category. The country has seen progress since 2000, when its score stood at 33.8, but the pace of improvement remains insufficient.
Farida Akhter, adviser to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, who attended the event as the chief guest, emphasised the importance of self-sufficiency in food production.
“We cannot satisfy our hunger by importing food. We must produce our own food, but it must be safe,” she said, highlighting concerns over food safety.
Dr Michal Krejza, Head of Development Cooperation at the Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh, also attended as the Guest of Honour.
The report stresses that while global hunger levels have been gradually declining, the progress made is insufficient to meet global hunger targets.
In comparison to other South Asian countries, Sri Lanka ranks 56th, Nepal 68th, Bangladesh 84th, India 105th, and Pakistan 109th.
While Bangladesh’s GHI score of 19.4 marks an improvement from 33.8 in 2000, there is still much work to be done to eliminate hunger and improve food security for all.
