Staff Reporter :
The current spate of cold wave may continue for five more days despite slight increase in the mercury level across Bangladesh on Tuesday, a day after the country witnessed the record low temperature in northwestern Tetulia, according to a met office statement.
‘Mild to moderate cold wave likely to continue till January 14,’ the statement said, adding ‘severe cold wave’ still sweeping over northwestern Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions, western Gopalganj, Jessore and Kushtia districts, and southwestern Satkhira district.
Southwestern Khulna and Barisal, northern Mymensingh, and parts of Dhaka division and regions of Srimangal, Comilla, Chittagong and Noakhali are exposed to ‘mild to moderate cold wave’.
Bangladesh on Tuesday experienced the lowest temperature at 4.8 degrees Celsius at northwestern Dinajpur, a day after adjoining Tetulia of Panchagargh on the foothills of Himalayas recorded the lowest temperature in the history with mercury level going down to 2.6 degrees Celsius.
The met office said the current spate of chilling cold to have its worst bite on Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions, regions of northern Tangail, northeastern Srimangal and western Chuadanga for one more day until midnight January 10, exposing the areas to ‘severe cold wave’.
Meanwhile, a met office spokesman said that it would take the country five more days to get rid of the cold wave in general.
During the period, moderate to thick fog may occur over the northern part and the river basins and light to moderate fog elsewhere over the country through the nights and it may continue for indefinite period. ‘The weather may remain mainly dry with temporary partly cloudy sky over the country during this period,’ the met office release said.
It said day and night temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country till January 10, but it may increase by 2-3 degrees Celsius over the country after that period.
Northeastern tip of Teknaf yesterday witnessed the maximum temperature at 25.5 degrees Celsius while Tetulia on the northwestern point of the country adjoining the Himalayas recorded the record low temperature o9f 2.6 degree Celsius.
In a bizarre weather phenomenon, the southeastern part of Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas witnesses a low with the ridge of sub-continental high extending up to northwestern part of the country while under the influence of extremely cold Siberian wind flow the country is simultaneously exposed to the cold wave.
Our correspondents add: Nilphamari: According to Saidpur Airport Met Office the country’s lowest temperature was recorded 3.00 degree celcius in Nilphamari on Tuesday.
Lokman Hakim of the Airport Met Officer said, Tuesday’s temperature is the lowest recorded in the current season. It exceeds the temperature of the past winter. Last season itwas 5.5 degrees Celsius. This situation may exist for the next 2-3 days. He hopes the situation will improve between 9 and 10 January. There is a possibility of further lowering the temperature.
The common man is not going out of the houses without urgent need. The newspaper has arrived late than other days. Sunlight could not be seen all the day. Vehicles move with headlights. The train was late in morning.
Bagerhat: The normal life of the people of Bagerhat district town and its all the nine Upazilas were paralyzed due to the prevailing cold spell along with bone-chilling wind blowing from the north for the last 5 days.
At present the temperature of the district has come down to a great extent. The rickshaws, van rickshaws and such other opened vehicles were hardly found on the roads in the morning before 8 am. The attendance in the office, banks and educational institutions was thin. When contacted some elderly people told The New Nation that they did not experience such a severe biting cold during the 60 years.
The victims of the cold spell are the children, elderly homeless people and the people of the slum areas. Extremely poor people have no sufficient worm cloths to protect themselves from the biting of the cold spell. On the other hand, people, mainly the children and the old, are suffering from cold originated diseases.
