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Download PDF The ongoing Monga in five districts of greater Rangpur may continue for one month more due to delay in harvesting of aman paddy.
While the Bengali months of Ashwin and Kartik are generally considered as the Monga period, this year’s Monga may continue up to mid-Agrahayan, said officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) and local public representatives.
Cutting of early varieties like BIRRI-33 and BIRRI-39 has started but harvesting in large areas of the district will be delayed by at least 15 days due to the prolonged drought that led to late cultivation of aman paddy, Deputy Director of Kurigram DAE Mohsin Ali said.
Transplantation of aman was supposed to be complete within mid-September but at some places in five districts of greater Rangpur it was delayed up to the first week of October, said a senior DAE official.
More than four thousand people of his union have been suffering badly due to acute Monga that may continue up to the middle of Agrahyan, said Principal Abul Kashem, chairman of Ramna Union Parishad under Chilmari upazila of Kurigram district.
Some of the Monga affected people are living on arum and greens due to the food crisis, said Emdadul Hossain, former chairman of Moghalbash Union Parishad under Sadar upazila and a leader of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal.
At least 12,000 of the 25,000 people of his area are suffering from scarcity of food, Abdul Gafur, Chairman of Baldia Union Parishad in Bhurungamari upazila of Kurigram district said.
Some people in Jadurchar in Roumari upazila of the district have not the ability to buy rice even if it were available at a very cheap price, said Union Parishad Chairman Mazibur Rahman.
Golap Uddin, 60, a rickshaw van puller at Burashal village in Hatibanda upazila of Lalmonirhat district, said he has to maintain a family of five members with an average daily earning of Tk 20 and most of the day labourers are facing similar conditions.
Five members of her family have to sacrifice the meal of one time to provide food for her baby, said Alefa, wife of a rickshawpuller in Patgram upazila.
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