Food insecurity in Bangladesh is expected to remain fragile given continued economic constraints and high inflation, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

The situation is likely attributed to extreme weather events, such as cyclones, during the monsoon season from June to October 2024, according to the FAO’s Crop Prospects and Food Situation Triannual Global Report.

The report published on Monday also said that a total of nine Asian countries, including Bangladesh, require external assistance for food.

Other countries requiring external assistance for food include Afghanistan, Korea, Lebanon, Myanmar, Pakistan, Palestine, Syria, and Yemen, the report said.

While food security conditions are gradually improving in some countries, high domestic food prices, the economic downturn, and reduced livelihood opportunities continue to have a significant negative impact on acute food insecurity for a large number of people, it said.

In Bangladesh, approximately 1 million forcibly displaced people from Myanmar, living mainly in Cox’s Bazar district, rely heavily on humanitarian assistance to meet their basic needs, including food.

For the 2024–2025 marketing year, sub-regional cereal import requirements are expected at an above-average level of 176 million tonnes (rice in milled terms).

Wheat imports are estimated at 62.3 million tonnes, slightly above average expectations of strong demand from the sub-region’s main importers: Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.

Rice imports in the calendar year 2024 are estimated at 17.4 million tonnes. Total rice exports in the calendar year 2024 are forecast at 43.2 million tonnes.

Imports of rice in the 2024 calendar year are forecast at 17.4 million tonnes. Aggregate rice exports in the 2024 calendar year are forecast at 43.2 million tonnes.