Dhaka: The European Commission has warned that Bangladesh could be exposed to a "real difficulty" unless food stocks were replenished in next four months to cover crop losses by Cyclone Sidr that struck the country following trails of two subsequent floods.

"It might be a real difficulty," European Commission ambassador in Dhaka Stefan Frowein told an opinion exchange meeting with Diplomatic Correspondent Association members here yesterday.

He said the interim government in the emergency-ruled country was now meeting the food grain demand from its own stock but it might become "extremely inadequate in March next year".

Frowein, however, assured of "all possible assistance" to help Bangladesh to prevent or mitigate the looming food deficit but advised authorities to approach the World Food Programme (WFP) for getting enough food-grains to prevent delay in procurement.

The comments of the top EC envoy came a day after Bangladesh sought five lakh tonnes of rice from the international community against the backdrop of diminishing stocks saying the current reserve could feed the vulnerable people until March next year.

But speaking at the same function, Finance Adviser Mirza Azizul Islam ruled out the possibility of any food crisis before March next year and alleged that "several quarters" were trying to create panic among the people although "there is no shortage of food right this moment".

Source : PTI