'Monga takes serious turn in northern region'

Speakers at a press conference yesterday said Monga, a famine-like situation, is once again taking a serious turn in the northern region due to recent floods, abnormal price hike of essentials and the government's indifference.

They warned that the ongoing Monga will claim a number of lives if the government does not take proper measures to combat it immediately.

The press conference was organised by Khetmajur Samity, a forum of farm labourers, at Purana Paltan in the city.

The speakers urged the government to fulfill their ten-point demand that include food for work programme for the solution of Monga.

Quoting a daily newspaper, General Secretary of Khetmajur Samity Advocate Sohel Ahmed said three people had already died of diseases related to Monga.

"Every year people in the northern region including greater Dinajpur and Rangpur become the victims of Monga with the advent of Bangla months Ashwin and Kartik due to adverse natural condition, but the government is indifferent to take permanent measures to combat it," he said.

On one hand, the distribution of VGF cards is very insufficient and on the other hand ruling party-backed miscreants are looting the relief materials unabated causing the crisis horrible, he alleged.

Giving the tragic picture of Monga-affected areas, Sohel Ahmed said the poor people are selling their valuables to have a square of meal.

Vice-president of the samity Anwar Hossain Reza said the number of landless people is increasing alarmingly in the area due to Monga.

The leaders declared that they will stage demonstrations and siege the offices of the deputy commissioners across the country on October 27 demanding of the government to take proper steps for saving the Monga-affected people.

Central leaders of the samity Ramendra Barman and Manirul Huda spoke at the press conference.