Govt to Assess Alternative Food Supply Models Alongside Existing School Feeding: Bobby Hajjaj
The government plans to explore alternative food distribution models, such as coupon-based systems and cooked meals, while maintaining the ongoing school feeding program for roughly 3 million government primary school students. State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj shared this update on Thursday, November 12, during a courtesy meeting at the Bangladesh Secretariat with a World Food Program (WFP) delegation led by Country Director Coco Ushiyama. Emphasizing that uninterrupted service is vital, the State Minister noted that the government’s top priority is ensuring food nutrition, safety, quality, and accountability without disrupting daily operations for millions of children.
Addressing future reforms, Bobby Hajjaj explained that introducing new distribution methods requires thorough feasibility studies, pilot implementations, and effectiveness assessments. Because preparing these initiatives comprehensively could take between six months and a year, halting the current program during testing would be impractical. ‘Instead, plans must move forward while maintaining the continuity and necessary improvements of the current system,’ he said. He also revealed that out of 26 procurement packages under the existing program, the tenure of eight has expired, prompting ongoing evaluations to extend current tenders and subsequently float fresh ones alongside stricter monitoring and storage standards.
During the discussions, the WFP delegation proposed conducting a rapid review of the ongoing school feeding program to strengthen its implementation. This assessment will focus specifically on three key areas: food and nutritional value, food safety and quality, and operational capacity at the field level. WFP representatives assured the ministry of providing necessary technical assistance and expert guidance, noting their commitment to completing the review and submitting actionable recommendations within the shortest possible timeframe to support the government’s efforts in refining the supply chain.
To ensure long-term sustainability, the State Minister stressed the need to examine successful international models while adapting them to local realities. He suggested exploring central kitchens, community-based management, and local partnerships for delivering cooked meals, provided they align with Bangladesh’s operational capacity and accountability standards. In response, the WFP delegation expressed keen interest in analyzing regional best practices and challenges, drawing from the experiences of Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and India, to help tailor an effective approach suited to Bangladesh’s unique context.
Furthermore, the WFP delegation highlighted that integrating local farmers into the school feeding supply chain presents a dual opportunity to boost local agriculture and stimulate the rural economy while securing student nutrition. The high-level meeting concluded with a shared commitment to collaboration, attended by WFP Head of Program Jesse Wood, Senior Partnerships Advisor Md. Mohsin, Program Policy Officer Sneha Lata, and senior officials from the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education.
