ZCZC
BSS-18
SITUATION-COLD-RANGPUR (with picture)
Season’s lowest 4.5 degrees Celsius temp recorded in Tentulia
RANGPUR, Dec 29, 2019 (BSS) – The seasons lowest temperature 4.5 degrees
Celsius was recorded in northernmost Tentulia upazila today causing untold
sufferings to the common people in the region.
The minimum temperature marked falls by up to 3.2 degrees Celsius in last 24
hours ending at 6 am today again forcing most people to remain indoors and
halting agricultural activities till appearance of the sun at 11 am.
The blowing cooler winds amid foggy weather caused bone-chilling cold and
the poor, elder citizens and infants are exposed to intense miseries.
The Met Office sources said the minimum temperature sharply dropped by 3.02
degrees Celsius in last 24 hours at Tentulia point where the country’s lowest
temperature 4.5 degrees Celsius was recorded at 6 am today.
The situation remained unchanged in Rangpur city where the minimum
temperature 9.4 degrees Celsius was recorded today .
However, the minimum temperatures marked falls at other points and were
recorded today as 6.9 degrees Celsius at Dinajpur, 8.2 degrees at Syedpur and
7.2 degrees Celsius each at Dimla and Rajarhat points in the region.
Local residents and union parishad chairmen said the number of patients
with cough, fever, asthma and other cold- related diseases continued
increasing today every parts of the region.
Divisional Director (Health) Dr. Mostafa Khaled Ahmed said physicians and
nurses are providing necessary health services and proper treatments to cold-
related patents in the hospitals and all other health service facilities in
Rangpur division.
Meanwhile, the district and upazila administrations, voluntary,
professional and socio-cultural organisations and other institutions have
further intensified distribution of warm clothes among cold-stricken people
in the region.
District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer for Rangpur ATM Akhteruzzaman
today told BSS that 69,650 pieces of blankets allocated by the government
were already distributed among cold-stricken people of the district.
“Besides, the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief has allocated Taka
two-lakh for purchasing and distribution of baby foods and clothes and 1,000
packets of dry foods to distribute among cold -affected people,” he added.
Senior Coordinator (Agriculture and Environment) of RDRS Bangladesh
Agriculturist Mamunur Rashid said the cold wave situation continues to
deteriorate causing immense sufferings to people and affecting agriculture
sector amid changing climate.
“Due to extreme cold and inadequate sunlight, normal growth of crop plants,
including Boro seedlings, can be stranded and crop plants may fail to prepare
foods as the process of photosynthesis could be hampered,” he said.
“The shocking impact of long-term cold wave can cause cold injuries to
growing Boro seedlings and growth of tender potato plants can be stranded to
cause late blight disease as the air remains mostly foggy,” he added.
Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension at its
regional office Agriculturist Mohammad. Moniruzzaman said agriculture
officers are assisting farmers in nursing Rabi crop plants and Boro rice
seedlings to save those from cold .
BSS/MI/SKB/1636HRS.