Mahdi Amin: PM committed to safeguarding students’ health and ensuring quality education

Mahdi Amin, Adviser to the Prime Minister and spokesperson at the Prime Minister’s Office, has said the Prime Minister remains firmly committed to safeguarding students’ health and ensuring access to quality education nationwide.

He made the statement during a meeting with Simone Lawson Parchment, Country Director of the World Food Programme (WFP) in Bangladesh, at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon on Tuesday.

Among those present were WFP Deputy Head of Programme Marybeth Black, Head of Supply Chain Catherine Claire, Head of School Feeding Emma Clara Lefu, and Senior Partnership Adviser Md Mohsin.

The meeting featured detailed discussions on the government’s “midday meal” programme, with a focus on providing students with nutritious, high-quality food. WFP representatives offered insights and recommendations drawn from their global experience.

During the discussion, Mahdi Amin noted that the initiative was first introduced during the tenure of former prime minister Khaleda Zia. He added that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has consistently underscored the importance of the programme in his election manifesto and public statements, stressing the critical role of nutrition in children’s physical and cognitive development. He reiterated that the Prime Minister is strongly committed to promoting both the well-being and education of children through such initiatives.

The meeting also explored ways to improve transparency, accountability and overall effectiveness of the programme, with particular emphasis on strengthening monitoring and supervision, as well as enhancing the role and efficiency of upazila-level committees.