Mercury dips further

The temperature continued to drop across the country yesterday.

The lowest temperature yesterday, 5.4 degree Celsius, was recorded by the observatory station in Rajshahi, while the temperature in the capital dropped to 10.4, the lowest this winter, though there was mellow sunshine for a couple of hours in the afternoon.

On Thursday the lowest temperature recorded in the country this winter was in Syedpur - 6.0 degree Celsius, while the temperature recorded in the capital was 10.7 degree Celsius. The highest temperature recorded in the country yester- day was in Teknaf, 24.2 degree Celsius. The lowest temperatures in Srimangal and Iswardi were 9.5 and 7.0 degree Celsius.

The lowest temperature recorded in the country to date was 2.8 degree Celsius in Srimangal on February 4, 1968 and the lowest in the capital was 4.5 on February 18, 1953.

The met office yesterday forecast further fall in temperature in the 48 hours from 6.00pm Friday. They said the temperature might fall by one degree Celsius during the next 24 hours, particularly in the north and northwestern regions. Meanwhile, the cold wave is likely to last for another day but temperature would not vary much during the next one week or so, weather experts said.

The met office also predicted thick fog in many places in Rajshahi and Khulna divisions and some regions of Tangail during the next twenty-four hours.

A severe cold wave is also likely to sweep over the same regions and some parts of Chuadanga in the next two days, the met office further said yesterday.

Our correspondent, Nishith Ranjan Saha, from Pabna reported that three people died from cold in 24 hours. The death toll stands at 35 in Pabna district alone, since the winter began last year.

Reports received here say that many deaths were not reported, especially from the river basins where travelling has become extremely difficult owing to thick fog and chilly winds

The dead in Pabna were identified as Arman, 80, who died yesterday in Majipur village in Atgharia upazila. Kasiruddin, 38, died yesterday in village Raghabpur in the same upazila. Six months old Zahedul Huq Golap died yesterday in Pabna Sadar hospital.

Our correspondent also reported that distribution of relief materials was inadequate and most people in the char areas did not get the warm clothes being distributed by the district administration.

Reports also say that inter-district traffic movement was severely disrupted due to the dense fog on the river basins and highways. Many night coaches especially from Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Dinajpur, Rangpur, Joypurhat and Bogra could not leave for the capital on time due to poor visibility at several points on the highway.

Our Barisal correspondent has reported that the cold wave has claimed seven lives in the district. The dead are Bimal Halder, 31, and Harikundu Das, 65, of Nabagram, Abdul Majid, 70, of Amtali, Alam Khan, 65, of Nalchitty, Shamsunnahar, 50, and Alam, 32, of Uzirpur and Shishu Bala, 70, of Agairzhara. A report from Khulna says at least six people died in different areas of the district owing to severe cold on Tuesday and Thursday. The dead have been identified as Amir Ali Ghazi, 55, Noorjahan, 62, Halima, 58, of Dhopkhola village, Barek Sheikh, 60, of Chetieni and Narim Ghazi, 75, of Badda village and Arshad Fakir, 65, of Daulatpur. Four people died in Moralganj upazila of Bagerhat district. They are Nesaruddin Sheikh, 64, of Kalikabari, Jahanara Begum, 70, of Baraikhali, Hamijuddin Sheikh, 80, of Bhaijorha and an unidentified woman of the same village.