Understanding the ‘Monga’ (local term refers to regional low food security) in Northern Bangladesh

The ‘Monga’ situation is a nearly famine like condition, which mostly occurs in the northern districts of Bangladesh including Rangpur, Gaibandha, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, and Nilphamari (i.e. Old/ Greater Rangpur). In a broad sense there are some physical constraints in the Monga prone areas. The local topography and microclimate make the area ecologically vulnerable to destabilize the natural livelihood as a result of flood, riverbank erosion, drought spells and often cold waves, all of which occur more frequently and intensely in northern region than in other region in Bangladesh. Moreover, this area is chactererized by skewed agricultural land holding pattern and high ratio of agricultural labor per household than others. In this setting, local employment is limited from mid-September through mid-November leading to income drop and loosening of purchasing power. Consequently the people face extreme poverty, malnutrition as well as food crisis in the Monga-prone area. The most vulnerable Monga prone upazillas are mainly situated along the Teesta, Dharala, Brahmaputra-Jamuna, Karatoya, Dhudkumar and Atrai floodplain. The percentage of landless people is very high in such areas. Extreme poverty and malnutrition runs throughout the year. People from Monga prone areas are tend to migrate to many urban centres. Thus, the consequences of the Monga make up a situation of close relationship with poverty. For eradication of the Monga, alleviating poverty by various ways are the key issues and they include a three level strategies. These: The local level measure, regional level measure and lastly, national level measure. As recommendations to this study, these three-level strategies have been elaborated as a total of interrelated 20 measures.