Agrilife24.com: Marking the 80th anniversary of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and five decades of Bangladesh-FAO partnership, a milestone event was held today at Hotel Intercontinental on Sunday, November 30, 2025.
This year, FAO commemorates eighty years of commitment to ending hunger and transforming agrifood systems globally, and with the Government of Bangladesh, five decades of enduring partnership to ensure a sustainable, inclusive, and resilient food future. To commemorate both occasions, FAO Representation in Bangladesh organized a daylong event titled “FAO@80 and Bangladesh: A shared legacy of agricultural transformation for five decades”.
Bringing together officials from the government, FAO, diplomatic missions in Dhaka, international financial institutions, other UN agencies, private sector actors, civil society organizations, youth, farmers and other local partners, the event served as a platform to reflect on the Bangladesh agriculture’s transformative journey and to co-create a forward-looking vision for the next decade of partnership.
The celebration began early morning with “Innovators’ Brew with Youth”, an energizing conversation circle bringing together fifteen young agri entrepreneurs across the country who are redefining agriculture through innovation and ambition.
The main commemoration featured a high-level inaugural session with statements from high level representatives from the Government of Bangladesh and FAO; and a keynote address to highlight key milestones in FAO-Bangladesh cooperation. It was followed by a high-level panel discussion session, titled, “Dialogue for Impact – Partnering Hand in Hand for Inclusive Transformation”, aiming to bring together voices from various stakeholders reflecting the collective commitment to advancing the agriculture development in Bangladesh.
“For over five decades, Bangladesh and FAO have worked hand in hand to strengthen policies, build resilience, and drive innovation across our food and agriculture sectors—achievements shared with government, partners, and our farming communities. As we approach LDC graduation, this partnership remains vital for advancing sustainable growth, boosting exports, and shaping a more food-secure and resilient future.”- said Md. Shahriar Kader Siddiky, Secretary, Economic Relations Division, Ministry of Finance as Chief Guest.
In his remarks, Md Mahmudur Rahman, Additional Secretary (PPC Wing), Ministry of Agriculture as the Special Guest, stated that , “FAO’s support—from flagship programmes like the Agriculture Transformation Programme and One Country One Product (OCOP) to climate adaptation, nutrition-sensitive agriculture, and emergency response—has strengthened national capacity, guided long-term reforms, and improved millions of farming lives. As we advance the formulation of a perspective plan for agriculture transformation Outlook 2050 to build a more competitive, climate-resilient, and market-oriented agriculture sector, Bangladesh deeply values FAO’s leadership and partnership in shaping a sustainable, hunger-free future”.
“Today’s milestone reminds us that Bangladesh’s agrifood transformation is—and will always be—a shared journey powered by communities, innovators, and partners. Together, we carry forward the energy, ideas, and support needed to shape a resilient future”, says, Jiaoqun Shi, FAO Representative in Bangladesh, chair of the inaugural session. Dia Sanou, Deputy FAO Representative, FAO Bangladesh delivered the keynote address highlighting the remarkable transformation of Bangladesh’s agriculture with support from FAO, as well as the promising opportunities that lie ahead,
The dialogue session included distinguished dignitaries, A K M Sohel, Additional Secretary, Wing Chief, United Nations, ERD, Jean Pesme, Division Director for Bangladesh and Bhutan, World Bank, H.E. Hakon Arald Gulbrandsen, The Ambassador of the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Bangladesh, H.E. Antonio Alessandro, The Ambassador of Italy in Dhaka, Ambasciata d’Italia a Bangladesh, Uzma Chowdhury, Director, PRAN-RFL Group, Chairman, Meghna Bank, and BoD, Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce & Industries (MCCI).
In the afternoon there were parallel sessions, providing dedicated, in-depth spaces for technical stakeholders to delve into the findings and future pathways of specific flagship initiatives, namely the closure of Pesticide Risk Reduction in Bangladesh project and debriefing session of the EAF-Nansen Survey 2025, in the Bay of Bengal.
The day ended with a unique and flavorful journey into Bangladesh’s culinary heritage with Farida Akhter, Honorable Adviser, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock as she talked about “Forgotten Foods and Diversified Dishes of Bangladesh”. For the next generation of changemakers, this gathering offered an invaluable opportunity to discover how heritage foods can inspire sustainable futures, nourish communities, and shape tomorrow’s food systems.
With this celebration FAO reaffirmed its commitment to work Hand in Hand with the Government for a sustainable, inclusive, resilient and food secure Bangladesh ensuring better production, better nutrition, better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind.
