Cold wave heightens suffering in 13 dists
Staff Reporter :
A mild cold wave is sweeping across 13 districts in the country and it may continue for the next several days, leaving people to experience the chill of winter.
According to the Meteorological Department, the mild cold wave is sweeping over Rangpur division and the districts of Rajshahi, Pabna, Naogaon, Chuadanga and Kushtia and it may continue.
The night and day temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country while moderate to thick fog may occur during midnight to morning and it may continue till noon at places.
Air navigation, inland river transport and road communication may disrupt temporarily due to fog, the weather bulletin said on Saturday.
The lowest temperature has been recorded in Dinajpur at 8.8 degrees Celsius. Additionally, the highest temperature is 26.4 degrees Celsius in Teknaf. Meteorological Department has forecasted rainfall with thunderstorms across the country in the next five days.
Due to the lowest temperature in the northern Dinajpur, from night till around 11am, the dews are falling like rains. The sun has not been visible for the past several days, leaving the residents of the area to suffer the worst.
The shivering cold is affecting the people of the district, prompting them to burn bonfires for warmth and the day labourers as well as the farmers have been affected much.
Rubel Sarkar, a farmer of the district, said that due to continuous dense fog and cold winds in recent days, the rice plants in his seedbed have turned yellowish. This has led to additional expenses to safeguard the crops, increasing the cost of cultivating Boro rice.
In Dinajpur town, Haider Ali, who usually commutes to work from the village, expresses the difficulty in finding work due to the extreme cold.
He stated that he has been sitting idle at home for the past two days, unable to find employment. The cold has deterred him from seeking work outside.
Auto-rickshaw driver Babul Islam shares his struggle, stating that with the onset of winter, people are hesitant to step out of their homes. Daily earnings are decreasing, and sustaining the family has become challenging for these people.
The northern-most district Panchagarh has been affected severely due to the cold wave and dense fog for over the last seven days.
The elderly people and children are suffering from different cold related diseases like coughing, sore throat and diarrhea. Many outdoor patients are visiting the hospital and clinics in the district.
The low income group people like tea garden labourers, day-labourers are suffering the most and their income has decreased as well.
Such a scenario is also prevalent in other districts including Lalmonirhat, Sylhet, Sunajganj, Noagaon where the suffering of the people is intensifying due to the fall of temperature.
Apart from different districts, the intense cold has also affected the daily activities of the residents in the capital as the sun was not visible on Saturday. The selling of warm clothes has increased at the shopping centres as well as on the footpaths.
The collection of winter clothes has been increased at Golden Gate Shopping Centre, Khan Plaza, Kader Arcade, Priyangon Shopping Centre, Baitul Mamur Jame Mosque Market, Nehar Bhaban, Nur Jahan Super Market, Chandrima Super Market, Nur Mansion, New Market and Gulistan Market.
However, the people said that the sellers are selling their warm clothes at some high prices. However, clothes on the footpaths are somewhat affordable.
