Ehsanul Haque Jasim :Normal life has been paralysed in most parts of the country, especially in the country’s northwestern part because of the severe cold wave for some days. The cold wave might continue for next two to three days, the Met Office said.Two cold-hit people died in the Monpura Island of Bhola district on Saturday. The deceased were identified as Nurul Haque, 75, inhabitant of Ward No 7 of Hazirhat Union, and Serajul Haque, 80, of the same ward. Locals said that the two elderly men died in the morning failing to overcome the intense cold. Most of the people of the area remain in their houses due to the chilly weather and the gusty wind. The cold-born diseases like fever, pneumonia, diarrhoea and cough are spreading among the children and the elderly citizens in the severe cold-hit districts like Nilphamari. In the Nilphamari Sadar Hospital, many fever, cough, diarrhoea and pneumonia patients are undergoing treatment. RMO of the hospital Dr. Hasinur Rahman said that the number of the patients was increasing in the hospital creating accommodation problem. He informed that more than 500 outdoor patients are given diagnosis everyday.The number of patients increased in other hospitals across the country. As most of the hospitals are containing limited beds, the patients have been floored. Child Specialist Dr. Enamul Hoque said that the children and the elderly persons are suffering most due to extreme cold. Normal work, including farm activities, are badly affected in several parts of the country. Cultivation of the winter crops, including potato, suffers from this unnatural coldness. The farmers fear extensive losses. The poor people, who especially live in the slums are the worst sufferers of the cold wave. Sufferings of the daily wage earners like day-labourers, rickshaw-pullers have also intensified. However, the warm clothes’ shops are doing good business. The cold wave has been sweeping across the country for the last four days. The temperature has been falling since Wednesday’s rainfall. According to the Met Office, most places of Bangladesh will be hit by a mild cold wave.The lowest temperature was recorded 8.4 degree Celsius in Rajshahi and Syedpur on Saturday, and in Dhaka the lowest temperature was 13.2 degree Celsius. The night temperature may fall by 1-2 degree Celsius.Moderate to thick fog may occur at places of the river basins while light to moderate fog may occur elsewhere in the country during mid night till morning.Senior weatherman of the Meteorological Department Md Rasheduzzaman said that the cold wave would continue for two to three days and it might intensify. He said that the northern and western parts of the country are mostly affected by the current spell of cold wave.Regarding the last cold spell in the season, the meteorologist said that the possibility of another spell of cold wave is little at the end of the month, but it is not certain.Meteorological Department Director Shamsuddin Ahmed said that a moderate to intense cold wave with the temperature between 4 and 8 degrees Celsius might hit north, north-east, north-west and the middle part of the country later in January.
