Cold spell disrupts life in Khulna

A mild-cold spell and biting wind is now sweeping over the south-western part of the country, including Khulna and neighbouring districts. The chilly weather has brought normal activities of the people to a halt. The day’s works began late while the business establishments were closed earlier than normal time due to cold wave blowing over the area.

Duty Observer of Khulna Met Office Md Shafiqul Islam said over cell phone that they recorded the lowest temperature of 11.5 degrees Celsius yesterday against the highest 21.8 degrees. On Friday (Jan 22) the lowest temperature of 12.5 degrees Celsius was recorded.
The low-income groups especially farm labourers, fishermen, rickshaw puller, and the people living in road side under the open sky, slums, makeshift houses and river side and in the char (landmass emerged from riverbed) areas, are the worst suffers because of the cold weathers.
Kajol Rani Das, 45, widow of late Bashudeb Chandra Das of Khorar Bosti near Sonadanga Bus Station in the city said, “I have been facing biting cold during the last five days as I don’t have the ability to purchase warm clothe. As I can’t go out for work due to the cold, I have to pass days half-starved.”
Manjur Alam, 50, a rickshaw puller at Khalishpur area in the city, hailed from Paikgachha upazila said he and other rickshaw pullers in the garage cannot go out for pulling rickshaw due to the severe cold as they do not have sufficient warm clothes.
 “Even if one goes out with rickshaw in the city, he can earn only a little as passengers are not available,” said rickshaw puller Rezaul, 45, of the same garage.  
Azizunnahar Bela, 65, a widow who lives at the River Rupsha’s char area said she was too poor to afford buying warm clothes but the government and non-government organisations were not any help either. 
 “If I had a blanket, I could do well during this winter. My sons earn by pulling rickshaws but their incomes are too meager to afford anything other than meeting our very basic needs, such as food and daily essentials,” she added.
The makeshift warm clothe shops in the town are now crowed with people, particularly those from low and fixed income groups, to buy second-hand sweaters, jackets, cardigans, woolen caps and mufflers for protection from the biting cold.

Cold spell disrupts life in Khulna

A mild-cold spell and biting wind is now sweeping over the south-western part of the country, including Khulna and neighbouring districts. The chilly weather has brought normal activities of the people to a halt. The days works began late while the business establishments were closed earlier than normal time due to cold wave blowing over the area. Duty Observer of Khulna Met Office Md Shafiqul Islam said over cell phone that they recorded the lowest temperature of 11.5 degrees Celsius yesterday against the highest 21.8 degrees. On Friday (Jan 22) the lowest temperature of 12.5 degrees Celsius was recorded. The low-income groups especially farm labourers, fishermen, rickshaw puller, and the people living in road side under the open sky, slums, makeshift houses and river side and in the char (landmass emerged from riverbed) areas, are the worst suffers because of the cold weathers. Kajol Rani Das, 45, widow of late Bashudeb Chandra Das of Khorar Bosti near Sonadanga Bus Station in the city said, I have been facing biting cold during the last five days as I dont have the ability to purchase warm clothe. As I cant go out for work due to the cold, I have to pass days half-starved. Manjur Alam, 50, a rickshaw puller at Khalishpur area in the city, hailed from Paikgachha upazila said he and other rickshaw pullers in the garage cannot go out for pulling rickshaw due to the severe cold as they do not have sufficient warm clothes. Even if one goes out with rickshaw in the city, he can earn only a little as passengers are not available, said rickshaw puller Rezaul, 45, of the same garage. Azizunnahar Bela, 65, a widow who lives at the River Rupshas char area said she was too poor to afford buying warm clothes but the government and non-government organisations were not any help either. If I had a blanket, I could do well during this winter. My sons earn by pulling rickshaws but their incomes are too meager to afford anything other than meeting our very basic needs, such as food and daily essentials, she added. The makeshift warm clothe shops in the town are now crowed with people, particularly those from low and fixed income groups, to buy second-hand sweaters, jackets, cardigans, woolen caps and mufflers for protection from the biting cold.