Cold wave sweeps the country

The second spell of cold wave has begun to sweep across the country, including divisions of Rangpur, Rajshahi and Sylhet, since Saturday, the first day of the Bengali month of Magh. The country recently witnessed the first spell of the wave in the second week of December. The lowest temperature—5.5 degrees Celsius—was recorded in Rangpur's Rajarhat.

The situation is most acute in northern and south-western regions where the mercury has dropped significantly while other regions face a mild to moderate wind chill, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD). Although the cold wave is forecast to subside in the next few days, it is likely to persist in some regions for at least three more weeks.

The effects of the cold wave have been most severe for the poorer sections of society, particularly for the homeless, the elderly and children. Thousands are already suffering from pneumonia, asthma and other respiratory diseases. People are using dry leaves and twigs to light fires to keep themselves warm. Others are using plastic bags as makeshift blankets. As vehicles cannot ply the roads due to heavy fog, the daily lives of schoolgoers and farmers have also been disrupted.

Evidently, there is a lack of preparedness of the local administration in these regions which ought to be addressed to minimise the sufferings of the vulnerable as a result of the biting cold. The government should see to it that the affected people are provided relief supplies and that the relevant agencies are alerted about the heightened risk of road accidents due to low visibility. Furthermore, medical facilities in these areas, which are seeing a surge in patients afflicted with cold-related diseases, could also use aid in the form of manpower and supplies.