The moderate cold wave sweeping across Srimangal and Dinajpur for the past two days showed no signs of relenting on Friday. This has caused immense sufferings for children and elderly people.The met office, however, said mild signs of improvement in weather were noticed in some areas of the country. The day’s minimum temperature of 7.6 degrees Celsius was recorded in Dinajpur, while the maximum was 27.6 degrees at Teknaf. According to the met office, a mild cold wave is also blowing over Rajshahi division and Sitakunda, Rangamati, Khulna, Madaripur, Khepupara, Jessore and Kushtia regions. A breakout in cold-related diseases was reported from hospitals and clinics in the northern region of the country. In Panchagarh, about 150 children were admitted to the Sadar Hospital with diarrhoea over the past four days, while patients diagnosed with diarrhoea and pneumonia are being admitted to the Adhunik Sadar Hospital and Maa O Shishu Kolyan Kendra everyday in the district.
Heavy fog over the river basin disrupted navigation of water vessels on the Patuaria-Daulatdia ferry route since Tuesday midnight. Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) sources said that four ferries could not anchor at the bank till 9:30am on Friday due to dense fog. The ferries resumed services after the fog dispersed, said Mahiuddin Rasel, manager of Patuaria Ghat.
However, met office sources said moderate to thick fog may descend over the country in the night and remain till morning. The weather may remain mainly dry with partly cloudy skies over the country with chances of light rain or drizzle at one or two places over Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions.
Sympathizing with the suffering poor people, the government, different organisations and benevolent people of the society distributed warm clothes among the people affected by cold in different districts.
The Joypurhat district police, led by superintendent of police Hamidul Alam, distributed around 300 warm clothes among the poor, while the Mongla branch of the Bangladesh Human Rights Commission distributed warm clothes among orphans and the disabled.
In Gazipur, Jagrata Tarunno, a humanitarian organisation, launched a project, ‘Shishir Bindu’, and distributed around 200 blankets among the poor and the distressed, while the Citizen’s Programme for Human Development Organisation distributed warm clothing among the poor in the city at Bhasantek, Darus Salam, Kamrangirchar and Mugda areas.
UNB adds: Seven children reportedly died of cold-related diseases in Chuadanga during the last 10 days.
On average, 150-200 patients with cold-related diseases are receiving treatment at the outpatient department of Chuadanga Sadar Hospital everyday, hospital sources said.
According to Chuadanga Met office, the cold wave might continue in the region for a few more days.
Mercury fell to its lowest here on Wednesday in the current season as the country’s lowest temperature was recorded at 6.3 degrees Celsius in Chuadanga against highest temperature of 23.8.
-With The Independent input
