The school feeding programme began from 15 November in selected government primary schools across the country to help increase student attendance, improve concentration and support better nutrition. Primary and Mass Education Adviser Professor Dr Bidhan Ranjan Roy Podder is scheduled to inaugurate the programme at Khubjipur Government Primary School in Gurudaspur upazila of Natore.

According to the project titled Feeding Programme in Government Primary Schools, a total of 31,13,000 students in 19,419 government primary schools across 150 selected upazilas will receive fortified biscuits, bananas or seasonal fruits, bread, eggs and UHT milk on five school days a week until 2027.

Under the weekly food plan, students will receive 120 grams of bread and a boiled egg on Sunday, 200 grams of bread and UHT milk on Monday, 75 grams of fortified biscuits with bananas or seasonal fruits on Tuesday and bread with boiled eggs on Wednesday and Thursday.

The proposed food list aims to provide 25.9 percent of total energy, 32.2 percent of micronutrients, 16.4 percent of protein and 21.7 percent of fat needed for children.
Project director Mohammad Harun ur Rashid said the initiative aims to support students in government primary schools with nutritious food so they can achieve inclusive, equitable and quality education.

He said the project is expected to raise the attendance rate to more than 80 percent, reduce dropout and increase actual enrolment by more than 10 percent every year.