Cold related diseases claim seven lives in Faridpur

Seven persons died in Faridpur district due to cold related diseases, according to an unofficial source.

The deads are shukur Ali, 60, of village Mongol Matubberer Dangi in Char Bhadrasan upazila, Dhala Baru, 61, of Mayana, Boalmari upazila, Nbirun Begum, 70, Zahura Begum, 69, of village Shukdebnagar and Baka Mia, 55, of village Falennagar in Boalmari upazila, Md Yunus Ali, 45, of village Maniknagar in Nagarkanda upazila and Khaleque Dewan, 60, night guard of Faridpur Zila Parishad.

An elderly man aged over 80 said that Faridpur never experienced such a biting cold.

However, children and the old are the worst sufferer in the cold spell. January 15 was the coldest day of the season in the district. On the day the sun was completely invisible and thick fog accompanied with piercingly cold wave persisted throughout the day keeping most people in-doors with doors and windows shut up. As a result normal activities came to a standstill.

Different philanthropic organisations including Faridpur Press Club, Faridpur Chamber of Commerce and Industries and Faridpur Rotary Club have, in the mean time, started distributing warm cloths among the destitute people. Faridpur Press Club has so far distributed 8,500 pieces of old warm clothes including sweaters, cardigans, coats, pants, and wrappers while the chamber of commerce and industries distributed new warm clothes worth Tk one lakh. Besides, the district administration distributed new warm clothes worth Tk one lakh.

BSS from Joypurhat reports: The unofficial death toll in the unprecedented cold wave has so far stood at 322 in the northern region.

The sky continued to remain overcast by dense fog keeping the sun invisible throughout the region. The sufferings of the affected people aggravated as shivering cold wave continued to whip up from the Himalayan range.

The poor, especially the day labourers have become the worst victims of the prolonging cold spell as they can not go out for work.

The minimum day temperature remained in between 6 and 8 degrees Celsius at different places of the region, official sources said.

Meanwhile, the government has intensified distribution of warm clothes among the affected people in all the 16 northern districts.

According to official sources, more clothes and funds have been allocated from the Prime Minister's Relief fund and the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief to cope up with the prolonging cold wave accompanied by dark clouds and thick fog.

So far, a total of 53,800 pieces of warm clothes, including 21,000 pieces of blankets, 16,400 pieces of sweaters and jumpers, 16,400 pieces of warm baby clothes and fund of Tk 14, lakh have been allocated for the cold affected people of 16 northern districts.

Responding to the call of the Prime Minister a good number of affluent citizens, organisations, non- governmental organisations (NGOs), members of parliament (MPs) and politicians have also come forward to distribute warm clothes in the region.

The district-wise break-up of warm clothes and cash relief distributed so far were; Joypurhat 3,100 pieces of warm clothes and Tk 1.50 lakh, Bogra-7,100 pieces of clothes and Tk 1.50 lakh, Panchagarh-3,100 pieces of clothes and Tk one lakh, Thakurgaon-2,300 pieces of clothes and Tk one lakh, Dinajpur-3,900 pieces of clothes and Tk one lakh, Nilphamari-2,300 pieces of clothes and Tk one lakh, Kurigram-1,500 blankets and Tk one lakh, Ranger-1,500 blankets and Tk one lakh, Lalmonirhat and Gaibandha-2,300 pieces of clothes and Tk one lakh each, Chapainawabganj-3,400 pieces of clothes and Tk 50,000, Naogaon, Rajshahi and Sirajganj-5,000 pieces of clothes and Tk 50,000 each, Natore-4,200 pieces of clothes and Tk 50,000 and Pabna-1,000 pieces of warm clothes and Tk 50,000.