Start works programme in monga-affected areas, Hasina urges govt

"We urged the government to open gruel kitchens to feed the starving people, but it did not respond to our call", she told a wayside meeting at Panthapara on the Bogra-Rangpur highway in Gaibandha on Sunday.

On hearing about Sheikh Hasina's visit, thousands of sugarcane growers and workers of Rangpur Sugar Mills blocked the highway and stopped her motorcade at Panthapara demanding withdrawal of government's reported decision to law off the sugar mill.

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They also handed over a memorandum to the Opposition Leader.

She also addressed another wayside meeting at Matidali in Bogra on her way to Rangpur.

Hasina said the four-party alliance government did not open gruel kitchens because its weakness will be exposed if it does so.

The government could start a massive works programme to build or reconstruct roads and do other development works during the monga.

But, instead of creating jobs, it is closing down mills and factories, making people jobless, she alleged.

The AL chief said the people have virtually became hostage to the government's misrule.

"Terrorism, looting, extortion, rape and murder are going on unabated. There is no security of people life and property. So, this government has no right to stay in power".

She was accompanied by AL leaders Motia Chowdhury, Sultan Mohammad Monsur Ahmed, Pankaj Devnath, SM Kamal Hossain and Khaled Ahmed Chowdury.