Declare northern districts as disaster area

She also urged the government to immediately start test relief and food for work programme for unemployed day labourers and adequate food assistance for thousands of the distressed people.

Hasina, also the chief of Awami League (AL), committed that the sufferings of the monga-hit people will come to an end if her party is voted to power again.

She said people in Rangpur, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Gaibandha and Nilphamari districts are passing days in starvation but the prime minister did not visit the area for a single day.

Hasina also criticised the government for price hike of essentials and said the prices of all essentials have been doubled during the four-year rule of the coalition government.

The AL chief was addressing four roadside gatherings and two huge public meetings in Kurigram district yesterday, the second day of her four-day-long tour to northern districts.

Addressing a rally at Mohendranagar, Hasina said the BNP and Jamaat want to rule the country by suppressing the opposition's movement through killing by police and party cadres.

She warned that the days are not far when the opposition along with the people will oust the government and form a "pro-people government led by the AL."

Hasina also distributed foodstuffs among the monga-hit people of Deular Patar and Jatrapur in Kurigram, and Mohendranagar in Lalmonirhat districts.

In the evening, the opposition leader visited the house of slain AL leader Samsul Islam Suruj and consoled the bereaved members of his family.

Later, she returned to Rangpur Circuit House to spend the night.

Hasina has extended her visit to northern districts by one day from November 11 to 12.

She will distribute relief among the monga-hit people of two upazilas of Rangpur.

AL leaders Obaidul Quader, Abdul Mannan, Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Akteruzzaman, Mojor Gen (Retd) AMSA Amin, Mirza Azom MP, Jahangir Kabir Nanok, Bahauddin Nasim, Pankojdebnath and Nazrul Islam Babu also spoke on these occasions.

Our Kurigram Correspondent Md Abdul Wahed reports that Hasina visited some monga-hit areas of the districts and distributed relief materials among them.

Addressing a rally at the Central Shaheed Minar of the district, she said the BNP-Jamaat government has no sympathy for the people of the country who are passing a very hard time.

Hasina said her party would eliminate monga if it voted to power again.