Bangladesh has been elected Vice President of the Fourth Asian and Pacific Ministerial Conference on social welfare and social development now bclhg held in Manila, reports UNB.

President Corazon Aquind of the Philippines formally Inaugurated the conference.

Social Welfare and Women’s Affairs Minister - Tariqul Islam is representing Bangladesh at the conference.

Addressing the conference on Monday, he pointed out the country’s poverty, hunger and unemployment situation, reports reaching here from the Philippines capital said.

He also discussed the national policies and plan of action for achieving the goal of education for all by the year 2000.

'Insplte of remarkable progress in food production. Bangladesh is yet to achieve self sufficiency', Tariqul said

He proposed to the ESCAP countries to plan necessary measures particularly on supply of food at reasonable price and setting up of suitable mechanism at the regional level.

He informed the conference that extensive programmes for population control have-' been undertaken with the assistance of internal agencies and friendly countries.

The Government aims to reduce the population growth rale to 1.8 per cent by 1995, Tariqul informed.

A separate ministry has been created to bring women in the main stream of development. the Minister said adding that Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia Is keen for the advancement of the women folk of the country.

Earlier, in her inaugural speech, President Corazon Aquino appreciated the successful operation of Grameen Bank in Bangladesh.