"People are fasting by taking only water for want of food. Various foodstuffs, including rice, are available in the market but people cannot afford to buy," the alliance leaders told journalists after visiting the Monga-affected Nohali Union in Gangachara upazila yesterday.

Addressing a press conference at Rangpur Circuit House, the 14-party leaders demanded the opening of a temporary office of disaster and relief ministry in the monga-stricken region by appointing a secretary-level official in aid of the destitute.

Awami League leader Suranjit Sengupta read out a written statement on behalf of the opposition combine, painting a grim picture of the penury.

Gono Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain, Nazma Rahman, Fazle Hossain Badsha, HM Ashiqur Rahman and Gonotantri Party President M Afzal attended the press conference.

The opposition parties demanded expulsion of Deputy Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Asadul Habib Dulu from the council of ministers for allegedly handing out money to his party men by selling out relief goods.

They also urged the prime minister to take lawful actions against the deputy minister and issue a statement from her office in this regard.

Earlier, the 14-party leaders distributed 4 metric tons of rice among the monga-hit people in Nohali Union, where people are worst affected.

Urging the government to double the number of VGF cards and distribute 15-kg of rice instead of 10-kg per card, they said few VGF cards have been given to the affected people and 8-5kg of rice is being given to them instead of 10-kg.

They demanded distribution of fertilisers and crop seeds among the flood-affected farmers and loans on easy terms among the people whose houses have been damaged in flooding.

The opposition alliance also demanded a special allocation for the monga-hit areas.

Apart from these immediate measures, they also asked the government to take short-term and long-term plans for a permanent solution to this desperate situation of poverty.