DHAKA: Local government, rural development and cooperatives minister Engineer Khandker Mosharraf Hossain on Thursday said his incumbent government will bring down the poverty rate to 15 percent by 2021.

He, however, requested everyone, including the non-governmental organizations, to assist the government in the endeavour.

The minister was addressing an event ‘on food programs for peace in Bangladesh’, organized by USAID in city.

He said that in the light of several indexes, including food security, Bangladesh has improved a lot.

“Government is taking various steps to get over the hindrances that still exist in this regard,” he added.

USAID said it has been playing a significant role to ensure food security, and peace at the grass-root level in Bangladesh since 2010.

This development agency is bonded with local government, leaders and civil society to provide food, potable water, and health knowledge for the poor and most vulnerable part of society through the ‘food for peace’ program.

CARE, Save the Children International and ACDI/VOC implement the program, aided by the US-based agency, among the poorer and landless people reside in southern, southwest and northern regions of the country.

USAID has provided more than USD 600-crore as aid.

US ambassador to Bangladesh Marcia Stephens Bloom Bernicat and USAID mission director Janina Jaruzelski, among others, were present in the program.

BDST: 1542 HRS, AUG 13, 2015
SR/RR