Food demand increases by 15 per cent a year but production increases by only 3 per cent. He however said there is no food crisis in the country now.

Azizul Islam was addressing a meeting of officials at Faridpur Upazilla Parished auditorium. Upazilla Nirbahi Officer Nitai Chandra Sen presided over the meeting.

Earlier the adviser visited flood affected areas in f Chatmohar, Bhangura and Faridpur upazilas and distributed relief.

Mirza Azizul Islam said there is no fertiliser crises in the country. “There are sufficient quantities of fertilizers. Moreover, the government is importing 1.27 lakh tonens of fertilizer”, he told the meeting.

Fetiliser is being smuggled to India and Myanmar and their prices are higher tghere, he said and urged law enforcers to stop it.

Pabna Deputy Commissioner Md. Golam Moula, Police Superintendent AFM Masum Rabbani, Faridpur Pourasava Chairman Abul Hossain Master, local Union Parishad chairman Shakwat Hossain also spoke at the meeting.

Mirza Azizul Islam said the government is taking immediate step to rehabilitate flood victims. Steps are being taken to assist affected people to rebuild houses.

The advisor stressed the need for coordination in relief operation by the government, NGOs and private individuals.

Advisor for Relief and Disaster Management Topon Choudhuri also distributed relief among flood affected people in Kazirhat, Dhalarchar, Ruppur and Puran Varenga union in Bera upazilla in Pabna yesterday.

He urged political parties and affluent people to help the affected people and asked the local administration to coordinate their efforts.