A cold wave, sweeping through northern districts, has paralysed normal life of the people.
Elderly people and children are the worst victims of the chilly weather that has been persisting over the past couple of days. Poor people without warm clothes are suffering most with the mercury dropping below nine degree Celsius.
Met office sources said such cold wave may continue to batter the northern region for two to three more days. In Rajshahi, the lowest temperature was recorded at 8.4 degree Celsius yesterday and in Bogra it was 9 degree Celsius.
The poor day labourers, farmers, rickshaw-pullers and some transport workers find their jobs at stake as the biting cold has forced many people to keep themselves indoors and slowed down the economic activities. People hardly venture out in such a condition where dense fog has blanketed the surroundings. They are seen cuddling together around fire. Vehicles are moving cautiously amid poor visibility.
Shreemoti Surobala, 45, of Meghai village in Kazipur upazila of Sirajganj district, said she along with her family members has taken shelter on the embankment of Jamuna river and has been living in a makeshift hut since losing their homesteads into the river few months                         ago.
Currently, she and her children are suffering from severe cold. They have no means to protect themselves from the shivering cold.
Ashraful Islam, an officer at Rajshahi metrological office, said the lowest temperature was recorded at 8.5 degree Celsius on December 20.
The temperature has dropped further yesterday after two days of rain.
Dr. Debobrata Roy, Civil Surgeon in Sirajganj and Farhana Haque, Acting Civil Surgeon in Rajshahi, said many people are being affected with different cold related diseases this season and taking treatment at hospitals and health complexes.
Mohammad Mezbah Uddin Chowdhury, Deputy Commissioner of Rajshahi, said about 70,000 pieces of blankets have already been distributed among the poor people in nine upazilas of the district.