For a week now, a cold wave has been sweeping over parts of the country. However, the mercury rose slightly yesterday with the lowest temperature recorded at 5.5 degrees Celsius in Chuadanga.

The current cold wave is likely to continue till Friday, said Samadul Islam, a meteorologist at Chuadanga Met office.

The country also experienced a record low in temperature of 2.6 degrees Celsius in Tentulia of Panchagarh on Monday. It was the lowest ever recorded temperature since 1968.

According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, a severe cold wave is also sweeping over Jessore and Kushtia regions.

More labourers entering the city at Heritage Square on a locally made three-wheeler to look for work. Photo: Anwar Ali

A mild to moderate cold wave has hit Rajshahi, Rangpur, Barisal, Mymensingh and some parts of Khulna divisions, and the regions of Faridpur, Madaripur, Tangail, Srimangal, Sitakunda, Comilla and Feni.

In Chuadanga, thick fog has been visible since morning and the sun was first seen around 11:00am.

Because of the cold, many people could not go to work in the morning, reports our Kushtia correspondent.

District administration sources said they have distributed around 18,000 blankets so far among the poor.

In Dinajpur and Rangpur, people continued to suffer as the sun remained hidden behind fog for almost the entire day although the temperature rose slightly yesterday in comparison to Tuesday, reports our Dinajpur correspondent.

Met office recorded lowest temperatures of 7.2 degrees Celsius and 8.8 degrees Celsius in Dinajpur and Rangpur respectively, yesterday.

13 children were admitted with cold related ailments to different government hospitals in the districts.

In Thakurgaon and Panchagarh, the biting cold made people's life difficult as their movement was hindered, reports our Thakurgaon correspondent.

Met Office in Tentulia recorded a lowest temperature of 7.0 degrees Celsius yesterday while it was 5.2 degrees Celsius on Tuesday.

THREE WOMEN DIED

Three women died of burn injuries in separate incidents from fires they had lit to keep themselves warm. The dead were identified as Moni Begum, 75, wife of late Ansar Ali of New Jummapara of Rangpur; Foyzunnessa 90, wife of late Abdul Hamid of village Kalipara, Nilphamari Sadar; and Khairunnessa 55, wife of Mehedi Islam of Jaldhaka of Nilphamari.

They succumbed to their injuries at the burn unit of Rangpur Medical College Hospital (RMCH) yesterday, reports our Dinajpur correspondent.

They were warming themselves beside a fire, said hospital officials.

Maruful Islam, head of Burn and Plastic Surgery department of RMCH, confirmed the deaths.

Forty other patients bearing burn injuries from similar incidents are admitted in the unit.