Thousands of people in at least two northern districts - Kurigram and Gaibandha - who do not have work are most at risk of going without food.

Food tends to be become costlier in November every year in northern areas.

But there are warnings that this year matters are far worse, with some newspapers saying that millions of people face starvation.

Serious situation

Aid agencies and the United Nations say the newspapers are exaggerating the problem, but the situation is still serious.

This time of the year is known in the six northern districts of Bangladesh as 'monga' - a time when food becomes more expensive.

This is because landless farmers are without work in between rice harvests.

In many villages, families eat only one meal a day.

There are reports of desperate workers selling their labour several months in advance for less than a dollar a day.

Aid agencies like Oxfam say that many of them have been left with no choice but to migrate from the northern districts in search of work.

Oxfam says food is still available in the markets, but it is too expensive for thousands of poor people.

The government, which insists that Bangladesh is able to feed itself, has now launched an emergency programme to help the worst affected.