At a conference jointly organised by CPB and Bangladesh Khetmojur Samity at city's CPB central office in the city, ahead of their street sit-in programme on October 16, the speakers also called for introducing permanent rationing system in the monga-affected areas.

The conference was held ahead of CPB's countrywide street sit-in programme from 11:00am to 12:00am on October 16, to be staged with the demand, "prevent monga, reduce price, save life".

The speakers demanded distribution of prepared foods, sufficient relief and fair distribution of rice under VGF programme among the people affected by the monga and flood and initiate rehabilitation programme as soon as floodwater recedes.

Demanding punishment of those who are involved in corruption with relief and VGF, they asked for allocation of Tk 3,000 as micro credit for each marginalised family in the monga-affected areas.

Uncontrolled price hike of essentials and the recent flood in the northwestern districts worsened the monga situation but the government is yet to take any action, Shamsuzzama Selim, president of Bangladesh Khetmojur Samity said.

Salary of ministers and parliament members has increased but the purchasing capacity of the general people has not, he added.

CPB General Secretary Mujahidul Islam Selim said the general people are not safe now as the government has failed to arrest the masterminds of the bomb attacks.

A silent famine situation is prevailing across the country, he said.

He urged all the progressive people to unite to oust the government and make the October 16 sit-in programme a success.

CPB Central Committee Secretary Ruhin Hossein Prince, Presidium Member Shahidullah Chowdhury, central committee member Morshed Ali, Mahbub Alam, Ahsan Habib Lablu, General Secretary of Bangladesh Khetmojur Samity Anwar Hossain Reza, Syed Ahmed and Assistant General Secretary Aslam Uddin were also present at the conference.