<div><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today called upon the countrymen to produce more food to tackle any challenge as the world community is apprehending a deep crisis next year.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>"Food production has to be increased. It is now inevitable and the utmost importance issue for us," she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The premier was speaking at the beginning of the meeting of the executive committee of the national economic council (ECNEC) held at the NEC Conference Room in city's Sher-E-Bangla Nagar. She joined the meeting virtually from her official residence Ganabhaban.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Referring to her recent visit to the United Kingdom and the United States, she said she talked with the world leaders and representatives formally and informally, especially at the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.</div><div><br></div><div>The premier said she talked with the head of states, head of governments and head of different organisations as they all apprehended that there might be a grave famine in 2023 while the economic recession will be deepened and food crisis will appear.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Sheikh Hasina said many countries are discussing the issue in the world. "So, we have to increase food production and make arrangement of preserving food as well as process the food taking it into consideration," she said.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>She added the land of Bangladesh is very much fertile and something or other is produced where a seed is sown and Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman used to tell that.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>"Following Bangabandhu's footsteps, we have to put concentration on producing food massively and we have to make arrangement to preserve the food," she said.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>The prime minister also urged the people to exercise austerity in every sector. "We should not increase any unnecessary expense, rather we should be more economical and aware of using power, energy, water, gas etc."</div><div><br></div><div>She requested each family of the country to do savings whatever they can, reports BSS</div><div><br></div><div>"It is also applicable for the government," she said.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>