The Asian Development Bank said Tuesday it is to lend Bangladesh $170 million to help cope with a rapid rise in food prices triggered in part by natural disasters. The loan, part of a package with other multilateral aid donors, "will ensure access to food supply for those hardest hit by recent natural disasters in Bangladesh and the rapid increase in food prices,' the ADB said in a statement. ADB funding will provide support to Bangladeshi government "safety net programmes' intended to ensure that some five million poor people get access to food. afp