Year’s lowest 4.5 degrees in Tentulia
Public sufferings caused by the ongoing bone-chilling cold have been intensified as mercury continued to drop in the northern region of the country.
This year’s lowest temperature was recorded as 4.5 degrees Celsius in Tentulia upazila of Panchagrah yesterday morning, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD).
“Such cold weather may continue tomorrow [Monday] and the day after tomorrow [Tuesday]. Temperature across the country may start rising from Wednesday,” said Abdur Rahman, an official of BMD’s forecast centre.
However, light rain may occur at few places in the country on Thursday and Friday. But temperature will rise, he told The Daily Star last evening.
The BMD’s weather bulletin said moderate to thick fog may occur at places over the country during mid-night to morning today, while weather may remain dry with temporary partly cloudy sky over the country.
Meanwhile, our correspondents in different districts reported on public sufferings.
In Panchagrah, the chilly weather disrupted normal life. People of low-income group are the worst victim of it.
The stone lifting workers, who collect stones from the Mahananda river in Tentulia, could not continue doing their job due to the adverse weather.
“We cannot stay in the river due to bone-chilling cold. We cannot earn our livelihood as we have been remaining jobless since last couple of days,” said Muktarul Islam, a stone lifting worker of Sardarpara village in the same upazila.
Rickshaw pullers, day labourers and people of similar professions are also passing hard days after being hit by cold.
Rahidul Islam, officer-in-charge of Tentulia Weather Observation Centre, said cold wind from Himalayan side sweeps easily through the northern region. That is why, mercury continues dropping in this region.
In Dinajpur, continuous low temperature, accompanied with thick fog, has already started affecting the winter crops in the district.
Many crops, including potato, onion, garlic and wheat, are largely produced in the district during the winter season. But production of these crops might be affected if such adverse weather continued, said farmers.
Besides, winter vegetables and Boro seedbed was also under threat.
“I have cultivated potato this year on one acre of land. On Thursday, I have noticed the potato leaf have already been curled,” said Mobarak Hossain, a potato farmer of Uttar Gosaipur village under Dinajpur Sadar upazila.
“Potato and Boro seedbeds are under threat. You see the seedbed have turned yellowish, which should look green,” said Altaf Hossain, a farmer of Boroil village.
Touhidul Iqbal, deputy director of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in Dinajpur, said staffers of local agriculture offices were working to assist farmers to protect their crops.
Our Dinajpur and Thakurgaon correspondents contributed to this report
Comments