DHAKA, July 7, 2023 (BSS) - Bangladesh has been unanimously elected a member of the Council of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for the second consecutive term from the Asia Region for three years from 01 July 2024 to 30 June 2027. 

The election place today at the 43rd Session of the Conference of the FAO held in Rome yesterday (6 July 2023) where 194 member states participated, according to a message received here.

Being a member at the FAO Council, Bangladesh with other council members will lead the organisation at both policy and executive levels in deciding and advising on matters pertaining to the implementation of programme and budget, monitoring of activities under the new results-based framework, monitoring of the implementation of governance decisions, and oversight of the administration of the organisation for three years.

Bangladesh embassy in Rome remained pro-actively engaged to obtain support in favour of Bangladesh.

The ongoing 43rd Session of the FAO Conference is being held on a hybrid modality at the FAO Headquarters, Rome. The eight-member Bangladesh delegation is led by Agricultural Minister Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque.

The delegation also includes Agriculture Secretary Wahida Akter and Bangladesh Ambassador to Italy and Permanent Representative to FAO Md Shameem Ahsan. The Permanent Representative and the Economic Counsellor from the embassy of Bangladesh attended the conference in-person. 

The FAO is a specialised agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Bangladesh was also earlier elected as a member at the FAO Council in its 42nd Session of the Conference for the term 01 July 2022 to 30 June 2024.