ZCZC
BSS-31
COLD WAVE-RANGPUR (with picture)
Cold wave continues disrupting life in northern region
RANGPUR, Jan 03, 2019 (BSS) – The sweeping cold wave coupled with
blowing cooler winds continued disrupting public life for the seventh
consecutive day in the northern region of the country today, officials and
local citizens said.
The situation deteriorated further following little falls in the minimum
temperature at most places today causing unbearable sufferings to the
commoners in the sub-Himalayan northern region.
The sun remained covered behind clouds, fogs and mists till 9 am at most
places making life miserable and forcing farm-labourers to abstain from their
activities on croplands and drivers to put headlights of their vehicles on
for averting accidents.
However, the situation improved with appearance of the sun after 9 am
making life comparatively easier and deteriorated again since the evening
amid foggy weather and blowing cooler winds from the north and northwestern
directions.
Senior Coordinator (Agriculture and Environment) of RDRS Bangladesh
Mamunur Rashid said the weather has been behaving peculiarly in recent years
as a result of climate change causing uncertainty to every sectors including
agriculture.
“Though the sun appeared for few hours around noon, cold bite again
increased causing immense sufferings to common people from late afternoon
today due reduction of the gap between the minimum and maximum temperature,”
he said.
Officials at Rangpur Met Office said the country’s lowest temperature of
5.8 degrees Celsius was recorded today at Tentulia in Panchagarh at 6 am
against the yesterday’s lowest of 4.9 degrees Celsius.
In Rangpur city, the minimum temperature of 9.4 degrees Celsius was
recorded today against yesterday’s 10 degrees Celsius.
Besides, the minimum temperatures recorded today were 7.5 degrees
Celsius at Dinajpur, 8.2 degrees at Syedpur, 8 degrees at Dimla and 7.2
degrees Celsius at Rajarhat point in Kurigram in the northern region.
Civil Surgeon of Rangpur Dr Abu Md Zakirul Islam said the number of
pneumonia, fever, diarrhoea, asthma and respiratory problem patients
continued to rise today forcing the doctors to remain very busy at all health
service facilities.
“The elderly men, women and babies are the worst sufferers, especially
in the rural and remote char areas on the river basins,” he said adding
adequate steps have been taken to provide proper treatments and medicines to
the cold-affected people.
District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer ATM Akhteruzzaman of Rangpur
said the government has already allocated over 50,000 pieces of blankets and
those are being distributed among the cold-stricken poor and distressed
people in the district.
Meanwhile, different NGOs, business bodies, charitable and voluntary
organisations are also distributing blankets, sweaters, mufflers and rappers
among the cold-hit people in the district as well as all over Rangpur region,
he added.
According to reports reaching here from the remote areas and char
villages in Kurigram, Dinajpur, Thakurgaon, Panchagarh, Lalmonirhat,
Gaibandha, Rangpur and Nilphamari districts, normal life remained affected
everywhere today.
BSS/SPL/MI/BZC/1836HRS