Country shivers

A cold wave has been sweeping the country for the last couple of days causing immense sufferings to people, particularly day laborers. The elderly people, women and children are the worst sufferers, especially in the rural and remote char areas on the river basins.

In addition, farm cultivation, especially potato, chilli and Irri-Boro and pisciculture might be affected if the situation prolongs, experts warned. Locals in the northern districts said the sun remained covered with thick layers of fogs till noon affecting vehicular traffic and forcing the drivers to put headlights of their vehicles on for averting accidents.

The mercury yesterday fell below 6 degree Celsius in different districts including Rajshahi and Chuadanga. The country's lowest temperature was recorded in the two districts at 5.8 degrees Celsius yesterday. Night temperature may fall slightly and day temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country.

Khulna and Rangpur divisions and parts of Tangail, Faridpur, Gopalganj and Srimangal have been experiencing a mild to moderate cold wave that may continue for a few days, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department. The chill is being felt not only in Bangladesh, but also in some other parts of the world. North America's East Coast is shivering in a record-breaking freeze in the wake of a deadly "bomb cyclone" that dumped snow as far south as Florida. The extreme weather has so far been linked to up to 19 deaths in the US and two more in Canada, according to reports.

Dhaka's low was 13 degrees Celsius, while its high was 22.5 degrees Celsius. The highest temperature recorded in the 24 hours was in Cox's Bazar at 27 degrees Celsius.  Officials at different hospitals and upazila health complexes said the number of pneumonia, fever, diarrhoea, asthma and respiratory problem related patients marked rise yesterday forcing the doctors to remain very busy.

In Thakurgaon, two elderly women died of cold-related afflictions on Saturday. The deceased were identified as Jahura, 70, wife of Mobarak Ali of Thakurgaon village in Sadar upazila and Sakina, 90, wife of Dabirul Islam, Goalpara.

The duo was brought to Thakurgaon Sadar Hospital with cold-related complications in the morning where doctors declared them dead. Civil Surgeon Dr Abu Mohammad Khairul Kabir admitted that two elderly women died of cold-related afflictions. Mercury dipped as low as 6 degree Celsius in Thakurgaon yesterday. Our correspondents from respective districts contributed to this report.