Temperature drops to 5.5 degrees in Kurigram

Cold wave continues to sweep through the country's northern region with the low-income people passing their days in hardship.

The lowest temperature was recorded at 5.5 degrees Celsius in Kurigram's Rajarhat area at 9:00am yesterday, Subol Chandra, record keeper at Rajarhat Met Office, told this newspaper.

"A severe cold wave is sweeping though Kurigram and Rajshahi districts. It may continue," Bangladesh Meteorological Department said in a bulletin at 9:00am yesterday.

A mild to moderate cold wave is sweeping thorough Mymensingh, Rangpur, Tangail, Faridpur, Madaripur, Gopalganj, Moulvibazar, Khulna, Jashore, Chuadanga, Kushtia, Barishal and Bhola, it added.

"Moderate to thick fog may occur all over the country from midnight to morning," said the bulletin valid for 24 hours.

Meanwhile, six people died at Rangpur Medical College Hospital after they accidentally burnt themselves in fire lit for keeping them warm.

The victims were from different districts of Rangpur division, said hospital sources.

Besides, 26 burn victims of such fire incidents are under treatment at the hospital, said Dr MA Hamid, the head of burn and plastic surgery department.

SUFFERINGS

The low-income people, especially day labourers, farm workers and rickshaw-pullers, are finding it hard to earn the bare minimum to feed their families.

In Kurigram and Lalmonirhat, those living in the Brahmaputra, Dudhkumar, Teesta and Dharla river basins are among the worst sufferers.

"I have been waiting for passengers for over three hours. But I'm yet to find any as people are staying indoors due to severe cold and dense fog," said 45-year-old Motaleb Mia, a rickshaw-puller, in Dada Mor area of Kurigram town.

"We burn straws to keep us warm as we cannot afford winter clothes," said Afiya Bewa, 58, a widow, at Char Gokunda village in Lalmonirhat's Teesta basin area.

Habibur Rahman, chairman of Mogholhat union parishad in Lalmonirhat, said, "I have received around 400 blankets recently from the government. But I need at least 7,000 blankets for the poor in my union."

In Thakurgaon and Panchagarh, many day labourers could not find work due to inclement weather.

"I have been waiting here for hours to find work. But nobody is hiring…," said Shukanu Barman, 50, at an intersection in Thakurgaon town.

[Our correspondents from Dinajpur, Lalmonirhat and Thakurgaon contributed to the story]