After a little respite for a couple of days, severity of the season’s second spell of cold wave worsened on Monday affecting normal life in northern districts of the country. People of other parts of the country are also experiencing the cold wave. The cold wave is likely to continue for another three to four days especially over the northern districts extending up to Dhaka and other parts of the country, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department’s latest forecast issued on Tuesday.
Parts of Rangpur division and Jashore, Tangail and Dhaka districts have been experiencing the cold wave, more than most other parts of the country, said Rasheduzzaman, a meteorologist of the Met office. Tetulia, the northern most tip of Bangladesh, recorded the lowest temperature of six degree Celsius in the country on Tuesday.
The cold wind billowing from the Himalayas has resulted in colder weather in northern part of the country, said Rahidul Islam, officer-in-charge of Tetulia Weather Observation Centre of Bangladesh Meteorological Department.
According to official sources, severity of cold forced thousands to stay indoors affecting businesses and normal activities as the sun remained covered by fog and clouds throughout the day amid blowing cooler winds. The administrations, affluent people, trade bodies, banks, voluntary, socio-cultural and charitable organisations and NGOs have further intensified distribution of warm clothes among cold-hit people to mitigate their sufferings.
District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer (DRRO) for Rangpur ATM Akhteruzzaman on Monday said that the government has so far allocated 69,890 pieces of blankets, 4,000 packets of dry foods, Taka 10-lakh for warm clothes, Taka two-lakh for baby clothes and Taka one-lakh for baby foods for the cold-affected people of the district.
Divisional Director (Health) Dr Mostafa Khaled Ahmed said that adequate steps have been taken in all district, upazila and union level health service facilities to provide proper treatments to increasing number of cold-related patients. “The doctors are conducting their duties round the clock in all hospitals and other health service facilities in Rangpur division,” he added.
Senior Coordination (Agriculture and Environment) of RDRS Bangladesh Mamunur Rashid said that if the cold wave continues for a few more days, normal growth of crop plants can be stranded.
