Under the programme, hundreds of poor people of Rangpur, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Gaibandha and Nilphamari will be employed in DEPZ and BGMEA factories.

Rangpur Deputy Commissioner (DC) Khandker Atiar Rahman said the BGMEA and DEPZ authorities agreed to employ them in jobs from this month. They have agreed to do it in response to a request of the army authorities in Rangpur Cantonment. Civil administration and army personnel of the concerned districts are engaged in the selection process, the DC said.

He said a large number of monga affected families in Rangpur have shown interest to do jobs in BGMEA and DEPZ factories.

Initially, DEPZ and BGMEA authorities will employ 360 people this month. About 285 monga affected people, mostly women, will be appointed in the DEPZ factories as apprentice.

A process is going on to select 50 people of the aforesaid districts for appointment in different BGMEA garment factories next month. The employment process will continue each month.

Rangpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Mostafa Azad Choudhury has lauded the steps of DEPZ and BGMEA. He said m any entrepreneurs have shown interest to set up garments factory in the monga affected districts, but they could not proceed further due to lack of gas and skilled manpower.

He said, 'We hope gas would be supplied to Rangpur through pipe-line soon'.