Save the monga-hit in 5 N-dists

They announced demonstration programmes on October 27 in the five districts to press their demand.

JSD leaders from Rangpur, Kurigram, Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat districts narrated how poor people in the region are suffering for lack of food.

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The leaders claimed that thousands of day-labourers in the districts are passing days half-fed or without food but the government is yet to take any effective steps to help them.

They alleged that the VGF, special VGF, open market sale of rice, and subsidised rice can not ease the hardship as only a fraction of the people is covered by these. Moreover, there are politicisation, nepotism and corruption in the distribution.

The leaders claimed that at least 50 people died of diarrhoea and several thousand have been attacked with the disease in the four northern districts mainly due to monga and flood. Starvation is almost endemic, they alleged.

The press conference was addressed by, among others, JSD central committee leader Dr. Ekramul Hoque Swapan, its Kurigram unit secretary Emdadul Haque, advocate Moshiur Rahman from Lalmonirhat; Prof Azizul Haque and Moksedul Kader Kushum from Nilphamari and advocate Rafiqul Islam Mukul from Rangpur