ZCZC
BSS-33
COLD-WAVE-NORTH (with picture)
Cold wave disrupts civic life in northern region
RANGPUR, Dec 19, 2019 (BSS) – The season’s first sweeping mild cold wave
sharply deteriorated the weather disrupting civic life in the northern region
today, officials and local sources said.
The situation deteriorated following sharp falls in the minimum and
maximum temperatures by 2 to 3 degrees Celsius in the last 24 hours ending at
6 pm today causing miseries to commoners in the northern region.
The sun remained covered behind clouds and fogs throughout the day without
appearance of the sun, affecting normal life here.
Talking to BSS, Senior Coordinator (Agriculture and Environment) of RDRS
Bangladesh, Mamunur Rashid said abnormal behavior of weather has been visible
in the recent years due to adverse impact of climate change.
“The farm-labourers could not conduct normal work and fewer numbers of
people were seen outside homes as the thick layers of fog covered the sun
throughout the day today,” he added.
According to the Met Office sources, the minimum temperature of 11 degrees
Celsius was recorded at 6 am and maximum of 16.5 degrees at 4 pm today in
Rangpur city. The minimum and maximum temperatures were recorded as 13
degrees and 18.5 degrees Celsius respectively at Rangpur yesterday
(Wednesday).
Similarly, the minimum temperatures recorded today were 10 degrees Celsius
at Saidpur, 10.7 degrees at Dimla and Tentulia, 10.1 degrees at Dinajpur and
9.8 degrees Celsius at Rajarhat monitoring points in the sun-Himalayan
region.
According to the sources in hospitals, upazila health complexes and
community clinics, the number of pneumonia, fever, asthma and respiratory
problem patients marked rise forcing the doctors to remain very busy today.
District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer ATM Akhteruzzaman of Rangpur
said the government has allocated 64,350 pieces of blankets for distribution
among the cold-stricken poor and distressed people of the district.
“We have already allocated 47,200 pieces of blankets in favour of all
eight upazila administrations and those are being distributed among the cold-
hit people with the assistance of local public representatives,” he said.
Besides, different NGOs, charitable, voluntary and other organisations
have also started distribution of blankets, sweaters, mufflers, rappers and
other warm clothes among the cold-hit people.
Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension at its Rangpur
regional office Md. Moniruzzaman said the weather might affect normal growth
of Rabi crop plants, including potato and Boro seedlings, if the situation
continues for a few more days.
Talking to BSS this evening, Editor SM Nurul Amin Sarker of the Weekly
Juger Khabar published from Chilmari in Kurigram said sufferings of the poor
living in remote char areas mounted following sudden falls in temperatures
today.
“Distribution of warm clothes should be intensified further to mitigate
sufferings of the cold-hit poorer section of people living in the riverine
char areas on the Brahmaputra basin in the north,” he suggested.
According to reports reaching from remote areas in Panchagarh, Dinajpur,
Thakurgaon, Lalmonirhat, Gaibandha, Rangpur, Kurigram and Nilphamari
districts, normal life has been severely affected due to sweeping cold wave.
BSS/SPL/MI/MMR/ARS/2007 hrs