Cold weather disrupts low-income people in misery

Dinajpur Correspondent :
Dinajpur, a northern district of Bangladesh, is bearing the brunt of the ongoing cold spell, as the severity of winter has increased in the last few days due its geographical location – its close proximity to the Himalayas.
Even though it is hot during the day, people’s lives are disrupted by thick fog and cold air from the evening to dawn.
The cold becomes bone-chilling when the wind starts blowing at night.
Vehicles move with their headlights on during the day, and road accidents are increasing due to the dense fog.
After the evening, the city becomes empty. No one goes outside unless there is a lot of work to be done.
The people in areas close to the river are the worst sufferers due to a lack of warm clothes.
Even though winter clothes have been distributed by the government, the amount has not been adequate.
However, blankets are being distributed in some areas by civilians.
The extreme cold weather has also caused an outbreak of diarrhoea, pneumonia and other diseases in the districts. The number of patients is increasing every day.
Hospital authorities are struggling to provide treatment at M Abdur Rahim Medical College Hospital, Sadar Hospital and Arvindo Shishu Hospital.
Asaduzzaman Asad, who is in charge of the Dinajpur met office, said the temperature in the district was recorded at 12.5 °C with 97% humidity.
This temperature will continue to fall for a few more days.
He also said the temperature will decrease further at the end of this month. Along with that, there is a possibility of mild cold waves.
Meanwhile, the lowest temperature in the country on Friday was recorded at 8.4 °C in Badalgachhi upazila of Rajshahi.