7 the household level, food security is closely linked with the issue of poverty, access, sufficiency, vulnerability and sustainability. Despite progress in reduction of poverty level and growth of food production, widespread hunger exists in Bangladesh because of the increasing population pressure, and the lack of purchasing power among the ultra poor.8 About half of the population of Bangladesh still lives below the food-based poverty. While availability of food has been increased, accessibility remains a major challenge. Poverty, gender, disability, geographical location and cultural practices are also important factors in shaping food security. Many poor and vulnerable households, whether food producers or not, do not have food security because they are unable to afford a minimum basket of food items through their own food production, cash income, market purchases and other resources necessary to acquire safe and nutritious food.9 Low income and increasing international prices of food commodities are also important factors in shaping food insecurity. Adulteration of food is major threat to quality aspect of food security in Bangladesh. Gender discrimination remains a powerful obstacle to the realization of the right to food in Bangladesh as women are more malnourished than men. The fact that women eat last and eat least reflects an unequal distribution within the household.10 There are two dimensions of nature of food security problem- chronic and transitory. Chronic insecurity refers to situation when individuals or groups of people suffer from food insecurity all of the time. Chronic insecurity is continuous inadequacy of food. Transitory food insecurity occurs when households face a temporary decline in access to enough food (seasonal or temporary).11 Food security in Bangladesh is affected by frequent natural disasters, when availability of food is temporarily or permanently disrupted. In Bangladesh, large segments of the population remain vulnerable to transitory food insecurity caused by drought, floods, cyclones and other natural disasters. 8 Ibid National Food Policy Plan of Action (2008-2015), Food Planning and Monitoring Unit (FPMU) Ministry of Food and Disaster Management, Dhaka, Bangladesh. 5 August, 2008, http://www.gafspfund.org/sites/gafspfund.org/files/Documents/NationalFoodPolicyPlanofActionFINAL.pdf 10 Ibid 11 Jean Ziegler, ‘The Right to Food’, Report of the Special Rapporteur on Bangladesh, Commission on Human Rights, E/CN.4/2004/10/Add.1, 29 October, 2003. 9