Severe cold grips country creating sufferings for people

The first wave of bitter cold caused severe hardship, especially in rural areas, by impeding people’s ability to move throughout the nation normally.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department’s (BMD) monthly outlook for January, which was released on Wednesday, states that the country as a whole, but especially the northern region, is seeing a severe drop in temperature as the sun has been obscured by thick fog lately.

In the current month of January, BMD predicted that one or two moderate to severe cold waves would likely occur over the country’s west, northwest, north, and northeast.
In addition, there could be two or three mild to moderate cold waves in other parts of the nation in January.

BSS district correspondents said many people, mostly children and elderly, are affected by different cold related diseases in different parts of the country due to the prevailing cold wave.

According to health facility sources, a sizable number of patients with cold-related illnesses were admitted to the health centers, primarily children and the elderly.

Due to poor vision, thick fogs brought on by the cold weather severely interfered with communication systems and slowed down traffic on highways.

Due to the shivering cold wave, sales of winter clothing, including as comforters, kanthas, and foreign blankets, have accelerated in Barishal.
 
Visiting different market places and makeshift stalls in Barishal city and its adjoining areas, the BSS correspondent found that the poor are facing hard time due to the ongoing cold spell, compelling them to buy more winter clothes. 

Apart from the warm clothes, including blanket, sweater, blazer, shawl, caps and socks, the sale of comforter has been witnessing a sharp increase since the middle of this week due to sudden fall in temperature.

In a number of districts, including Feni, Rangpur, Jamalpur, and Dinajpur, the government, non-governmental organizations, and social groups gave out blankets and other warm clothing to the cold-stricken impoverished and distressed individuals.

According to sources from the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC), the ferry service on the Paturia-Daulatdia route in Manikganj restarted after 6.30am today after being suspended at 11pm on Friday owing to heavy fog.

In Chandpur, the common people became helpless in the face of the severity of the winter. Especially, the sufferings of low-income working people have become extreme.

In Sirajganj, the intensity of cold has increased in Sirajganj for the past few days, disrupting normal life.

Due to dense fog and bitter cold, villagers are facing more sufferings than those who are living in towns.

The low-income people have suffered greatly due to the drop in temperature. The lowest temperature recorded in Sirajganj at 6 am today was 12.2 degrees Celsius.

Vehicles are moving slowly on the Jamuna Bridge West Link Highway and regional roads at night and using headlights in the early morning due to dense fog.

In Jhenaidah, the bone-chilling cold wave has left daily wage earners, workers and destitute people in trouble. As the winter has intensified in the district, people are rushing to the warm clothe shops.

Dense fog has fallen across the district of Jhenaidah since midnight on Friday while a cold wind is currently blowing from the north there. 

According to the Meteorological Department, the minimum temperature in Jhenaidah on Saturday may stand at 13 degrees Celsius.

In Satkhira, the sun did not appear until 1:45 pm today. The working and floating people are trying to mitigate their suffering by lighting fires.

Zulfikar Ali Ripon, officer of the Satkhira Meteorological Office, said that the lowest temperature recorded at 6 am today was 13.2 degrees Celsius.

BMD today in its weather forecast said mild cold wave is sweeping over the Panchagarh district and it may continue as moderate to dense fog is likely to occur over the country from today midnight to tomorrow morning.

“Moderate to dense fog is likely to occur over the country from today midnight to tomorrow morning and it may continue at some places till noon,” said the weather forecast valid for next 24 hours commencing from 9 am today.

It said air navigation, inland river transport and road communication may be disrupted temporarily due to dense fog. 

Mild cold wave is sweeping over the Panchagarh district and it may continue while the BMD said the seasonal low lies over South Bay, extending its trough to Northeast Bay.

Due to dense fog cold feelings may persist at places over the country during daytime.

The BMD recorded the country’s lowest temperature on Friday at 9.4 degrees Celsius in Tetulia of Rangpur Division while the maximum temperature recorded at 28.2 degrees Celsius this morning.

The Met Office recorded today’s lowest temperature at 9.4 degrees Celsius in Tetulia of Rangpur Division and 13 degrees Celsius in Dhaka city.