The country yesterday witnessed record low temperature in 50 years with the mercury hitting at 2.6 degrees Celsius at Tetulia upazila in northern Panchagarh district breaking the previous record of 2.8 degrees Celsius at Srimangal in Sylhet. People will have to endure sufferings as the ongoing cold wave coupled with thick fog will continue until tomorrow, says Bangladesh Meteorological Department.

“The BMD has recorded minimum lowest temperature 2.6 degrees Celsius at Tetulia upazila. The lowest temperature in the country’s history was recorded at 2.8 degrees Celsius Srimangal in Sylhet on February 4 in 1968,” meteorologist of BMD Mizanur Rahman told this correspondent.

Due to contacting cold 12 people killed across the country including four children in Rajshahi Medical College alone and six in Kurigram in last four days. The latest victim of cold wave was a newborn who died due to cold-related complication at Kurigram Adhunik Sadar Hospital yesterday.

“We fear the temperature will further rise after January 10 which is most likely to inflict pain on the devotees of Biswa Ijtema of Tabligh Jamaat on January 12. People in Rajshahi, Rangpur, Sylhet, Jessore, Feni and Tangail will have to suffer badly due to the persisting cold wave till Wednesday,” meteorologist added.

Apart from the far-flung corners of Bangladesh the cold wave is also sweeping divisional headquarters including Dhaka city disrupting the life of poor people living in slums and on the streets.

The Met office recorded 4.9 degree Celsius in Rangpur, 5.3 degree Celsius in Rajshahi, 9.5 degree Celsius in Dhaka, 8.6 degree Celsius in Khulna and 10.8 degree Celsius in Chittagong.

The second lowest temperature was 2.9 degree Celsius at Syedpur upazila in Nilphamari and third lowest 3 degree Celsius in Dimla upazila, 3.1 degree Celsius in Rajarhat in Kurigram and 3.2 degree in Dinajpur district. They also recorded 5.4 degree Celsius in Chuadanga yesterday morning, Rahman added.

Mild to moderate cold wave is sweeping over Mymensingh and Barisal divisions, rest parts of Dhaka, Sylhet and Khulna divisions and it may continue till Wednesday, Met office sources said.

People of different districts have been reported to have forced to endure untold suffering due to the persistent cold weather. Travelers and commuters also suffered due to cold, sometimes halting or rescheduling their itineraries. With children and the elderly disproportionately affected by incidence of cold-related diseases.

The cold wave limited their outdoor activities to only basic necessities. The BMD considers temperatures from 4-6 degreess Celsius to be a severe cold wave. Dhaka, Mymensingh, Barisal, Rajshahi, Rangpur and Khulna Divisions and parts of Srimangal and Sitakunda are currently experiencing light to medium cold waves.

Our Panchgarh Correspondent adds: Shivering cold and cold related diseases due to record low temperature have paralised life in the district. The cold wave is affecting everything from the study of students in school and home to work at home and in cropland. People can’t even sleep well waiting the whole night for the sun to rise. For biting winter children are contacting diarrhoea, said Panchgarh Civil Surgeon Dr Saiful Islam adding that our physicians are put on alert and ready to serve the people suffering from cold.

Our Kurigram Correspondent: Dense fog and cold wave have continued to paralyse normal lives in the district while poor people are facing its hardship those who live day-labour.

At least four lakh poor people of around 250 chars and river adjacent areas and their domestic cattle have been mostly facing panic of the cold for last three days.

To ward off cold people burn hay and straw in the morning when they get cattle wrapped in sacks or old clothes. Shahor Banu, 60, of Hatirpar area of Ward No 5 under Kurigram municipality said, “I am facing cold panic from three days due to want of warm clothes. I solicited warm clothes from my ward councillor, but he failed to provide me.”

A district disaster and rehabilitation official said “We have received 57,000 pieces of blankets from the relief ministry and which are being distributed to all upazila.” Our Meherpur Correspondent adds:

Deputy Commissioner of Meherpur Parimal Shingh said, “We sent more than 3000 blankets to be distributed among the cold hit people of the district.” Our Rajshahi Correspondent reports: The poor people in the slums and shanties sufferings ratcheted up as mercury dipped in the recent days.

The sales in the various markets of the city dropped as the movement of people remained limited due to bitter cold. The poor people were seen a little late to wake up to go to their fields. The fog that had hung the city and adjacent districts finally lifted at 11:00 am when cool breeze did not make the life any easier.

Many trucks and buses were driving slowly to avoid a collision for the reduced visibility to near 10 meters or less. The warm clothes markets seemed to be flourishing, with sweaters, jackets, woolen wrapper, socks and gloves selling like hotcakes. Our Noakhali Correspondent reports: The number of patients with cough, fever, asthma with 76 child admitted in Feni Sadar Hospital and 43 child in Noakhali 250 bed hospital in last 24 hours.

According to sources in the Agricultural Extension Office in Feni, severe winter hampered potato and other crop production and the target may not be achieved adding that nearly 7 buffalo and cows died due to cold related diseases.

MK