Reza Mahmud :
Cold related diseases are increasing alarmingly among the children and the old aged people as a mild cold wave is sweeping over parts of the country for the last several days.
Bangladesh Meteorological Department on Sunday said in its regular bulletin that the mild cold wave is sweeping over parts of the country, and it may continue for two to three more days.
The cold wave has been impacting daily life, particularly affecting day laborers, children, and the elderly people across the country.
BMD forecast said the mild cold wave is sweeping over the districts of Rajshahi, Dinajpur, Panchagarh, Naogaon, Kushtia and Chuadanga, Kishoreganj and it may abate from some places.
The lowest temperature in the country on Sunday was recorded at 8.5 degrees Celsius in Dinajpur while the highest was recorded at 26.8 degrees Celsius in Teknaf the bulletin showed.
Number of patients are rising sharply as cold wave continues across the country, sources said.
Hospitals and clinics in several districts including the capital Dhaka are currently full with patients suffering from cold related-diseases, including fever, coughing, diarrhea, pneumonia, respiratory and Asthma.
Dhaka Shishu Hospital witnessed huge patients infected from different cold related diseases in the last several days.
Besides, the children’s ward at Feni Sadar Hospital has already admitted patients double its capacity while at least 16 children have reportedly died in the past six days till Saturday from cold, diarrhoea, pneumonia, and other cold-related diseases at the Rangpur Medical College Hospital.
More than 300 children have been admitted to the hospital’s children’s wards.
In Barisal, more than 1200 children have been admitted to different hospitals with cold-related diseases, hospital officials said.
When contacted, Professor Dr. M. Muzaherul Huq on Sunday told The New Nation, “Sudden cold wave has attacked Bangladesh.
It might continue which is alarming too. The air pollution is high too in our cities particularly in Dhaka.
The infants’ children and old aged population are at high risk of cold diseases like fever cough pneumonia and other conditions like throat conditions and upper respiratory infections.”
He suggested that the people should take all precautions to keep them safe as Corona is still infecting people as an added risk.
As per the weather bulletin, moderate to thick fog may occur over the country between midnight and morning and may continue till noon at several places.
Air navigation, inland river transport and road communication may be disrupted temporarily due to fog.
Weather may remain dry with temporary partly cloudy skies over the country.
Meteorologist Bazlur Rashid said the mild cold wave will continue next two or three more days.
The BMD predicted that drizzle or light rain across the country on January 17 or 18.
Temperature between 8 to 10 degrees Celsius is considered a mild cold wave, 6 to 8 degrees Celsius a moderate cold wave, and less than 6 degrees Celsius a severe cold wave.
Two Dhaka-bound flights land in Kolkata due to dense fog: Two flights carrying passengers from two Middle-Eastern countries landed at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport of Kolkata in India instead of Dhaka due to dense fog last night.
