Miseries for poor as mercury may dip further

The current cold wave that has been sweeping through the country's northern region may continue for the next few days.

People from the low income group are the worst sufferer due to the bone-chilling cold that has been continuing for about a week.

Yesterday, the country's lowest temperature was recorded at 8.3 degree Celsius in Tuntulia, according to Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD). 

Assistant Officer at Tentulia Met Office Rasel Shah said cold wave from the Himalayas has been sweeping over the region for the last five days.

The temperature might fall and continue for few more days, he said.

The ongoing cold-spell has hit the day labourers and rickshaw pullers hard as they are struggling to continue their work amid the cold.

Farm worker Debashish Barman of Yakubpur in Thakurgaon Sadar upazila said it is hard for them to continue their work in the cropland in such bone-chilling cold, but they are compel to stay at the field as it is peak time for tending potato and other winter vegetables.

Rickshaw puller Abdus Sattar of Nishchintapur said it is very difficult to pull rickshaw is such an adverse weather.

He have no choice as he is the only bread earner of his four-member family, Sattar said.

Meanwhile, the number of patients, especially elderly ones and children, affected with different cold related diseases sees a rise at different hospitals and private clinics.

Hospital sources said about 456 patients, including 143 children, are currently undergoing treatment at Thakurgaon Sadar Hospital.

Moreover, about 800 to 1,000 patients receive treatment at the outdoor of the hospital every day. Of them, about 50 percent have cold related complications.

Thakurgaon Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman said the local administration has distributed about 32,000 blankets among the cold-hit people in five upazilas of the district.

He also urged the well-off people of the society to come forward and help the cold victims.

Away in Panchagarh, about 22,000 blankets have already been distributed among the distressed and poor people of the district.