Mercury may rise

Day-to-day life in many districts is being hampered due to the bone-chilling cold and daily wage-earners are the ones suffering most.

Yesterday's lowest temperature was 7.5 degree Celsius, which was recorded in Tentulia of Panchagarh.

"A mild cold wave is sweeping over the regions of Gopalganj, Sitakunda, Cumilla, Sreemangal, Badalgachhi, Tentulia, Rajarhat and Chuadanga," said a weather bulletin.

"It may abate in some more places," said the bulletin of Bangladesh Meteorological Department.

"Night temperature may rise slightly and day temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country," it added.

The Met office forecast for 24 hours was released at 6:00pm yesterday.

"Weather may remain dry, with temporary partly cloudy skies over the country. Moderate to thick fog may occur at places over the country's river basins and light to moderate fog may occur at places elsewhere over the country during midnight to morning," it added.

In the next 72 hours, the bulletin forecast that the temperature may rise further.

Our correspondents from different districts reported on the cold wave.

In Thakurgaon and Panchagarh, people of low-income groups are facing difficulties due to chilly weather.

"We cannot stay indoors as severe cold wind enters our rooms made of bamboo walls," said Majiran Nesa, 65, of Khalpara slum in Thakurgaon town.

The adverse weather hits businesses too.

"People don't want to go outside home due to cold weather. So, sales have dropped significantly," said Omar Ali, a grocery shop owner.

Cold-related diseases are spreading in the districts.

In Lalmonirhat and Kurigram, many people are suffering from food shortage as they cannot go out for work.

"Our livelihood earners cannot go outside home due to the biting cold. So, we are suffering from a shortage of food," said Kohinoor Bewa, 86, of Char Kulaghat in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila.

There is also a lack of warm clothes.

"We don't have enough warm clothes. No one has given us any blanket. We are passing hard days," said Akkas Ali, 65, of Char Kodalkati in Kurigram's Rajibpur upazila.

Contacted, Roumari Upazila Nirbahi Officer Al-Imran said they already started distributing blankets among the poor.

Low temperature hits low-income people, especially in the char areas in Bogura. Normal life has been affected by dense fog and bitter cold. Besides, cold-related diseases are increasing in char areas.

Mozzafal Hossain Pramanik, 60, of Batir char in Bogura's Sariakandi upazila, said, "In the last 10-15 days, severe cold affected our lives. We cannot work on the cropland due to the extreme cold."

Mamun Mia, 35, of Dakatmara char of the same upazila, said, "We are low-income people. We don't have sufficient warm clothes. This year, no one has given us warm clothes yet."

Rabiul Islam, medical officer at Sariakandi Upazila Health Complex, said, "Patients with cold-related ailments are rising since last week. Some 30-40 patients, mostly children and aged people, are taking treatment at our outdoor services for diarrhoea, dysentery and breathing problems daily.

On the other hand, 88 children are undergoing treatment with cold-related diseases at Bogura Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical Hospital, said Abdul Wadud, assistant directorof the hospital.

[Our correspondents from Thakurgaon, Lalmonirhat and Bogura contributed to this report]