RANGPUR, Jan 4, 2019 (BSS) – The bone-chilling cold continued shivering
the northern (N) region for the eighth consecutive day today forcing
thousands to stay indoors up to 9 am till appearance of the sun penetrating
thick layers of fogs.
The minimum temperatures ranged between 5.9 and 9.4 degree Celsius today
causing the bone-chilling cold and exposing the poor to miseries prompting
local authorities to seek further government allocation of warm clothes.
According to the Met Office, the country’s lowest temperature of 5.9
degree Celsius was recorded today at the northernmost Tentulia town in
Panchagarh at 6 am causing immense sufferings to the local people.
Besides, the minimum temperature 9.4 degree Celsius was recorded at 6 am
today at Rangpur, 9 degree Celsius at Dinajpur, 7.8 degree at Syedpur and 8.2
degree at Dimla in Nilphamari and 7.5 degree Celsius at Rajarhat in Kurigram.
After appearance of the sun, the clouds, mists and fogs disappeared from
the air easing the cold bite in the midday.
But, the situation again started deteriorating as the cold wave coupled
with cooler wind started blowing from the western and north-western
directions.
Local residents said the extreme weather today further aggravated
sufferings of thousands of people living on the sandy char areas in Rangpur,
Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Gaibandha, Nilphamari and other adjoining districts on
the Brahmaputra basin.
Doctors at the hospitals and health complexes said they continued to treat
higher number of people with cough, fever, asthma and other cold and climate
change related diseases today like during the past few days.
Rangpur Divisional Director (Health) Dr Amal Chandra Saha told reporters
that the stock of medicines were adequate and steps were taken at the
government-run health facilities in all districts and upazilas of Rangpur
division to treat the cold-related patients.
The district administrations, NGOs and different voluntary, professional,
socio-cultural and charitable organisations, business bodies, banks and other
institutions extended their hands in distributing warm clothes among the
cold-stricken people.
District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer of Rangpur ATM Akhteruzzaman
said distribution of over 50,000 pieces of blankets among the cold-hit people
was nearing completion in the district as elsewhere in the northern region.
Kurigram Deputy Commissioner Sultana Pervin said some 42,000 pieces of
blankets allocated by the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund and the Ministry of
Disaster Management and Relief were distributed so far among the cold-hit
people of the district.
“We sent another letter to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief
on Thursday seeking allocation of more warm clothes for distribution among
the cold-stricken people of all nine upazilas in the district,” Sultana
added.
Talking to BSS, Horticulture Specialist of the Department of Agriculture
Extension Khondker Md Mesbahul Islam said the prevailing weather might affect
normal growth of Rabi crop plants, including potato and Boro seedbeds, if the
situation deteriorates further.
“Though the transplantation process of Boro rice seedling is being
hampered now amid shivering cold, there is enough time to complete the
process timely by February next for getting normal production of the crop,”
Islam added.