People feel the chill

People of Thakurgaon and Panchagarh are experiencing the first cold wave of the season, which is causing untold sufferings to the poor.

The bone-chilling cold spell with fog and biting wind for the last several days has disrupted normal life.

As the people were compelled to stay indoors due to the chilly weather, business was hampered while the attendance in schools and colleges reduced, said locals.       

A number of patients, especially elders and children, thronged hospitals in the districts with cold-related diseases, including pneumonia and cold diarrhoea.

The lowest temperature was recorded in Thakurgaon at 9 degrees Celsius while the temperature at Panchagarh was 13 degrees yesterday, according to met officials.

The sun remained invisible almost all day long for the last several days. 

A large number of people gathered at makeshift and roadside markets to purchase second-hand warm clothes though the prices have almost doubled in last few days, said local people.

Cold-stricken poor people of different villages in the districts are suffering  a lot due to lack of warm clothes.

Although different government and non-governmental organisations are distributing warm clothes among the poor, it is too inadequate for the demand.

Deputy Commissioner of Thakurgaon Abdul Awal said the district administration has already distributed 12,677 blankets among the cold-stricken poor people in five upazilas.

Meanwhile, Panchagarh DC Amal Krisna Mandal said they have already distributed 9,835 blankets among the poor people.

At least 11,575 blankets will be distributed within a week in the district, he said.