6 Die As Cold Wave Continues

Cold related diseases and fire lit for warmth killed six people in Rangpur division on Sunday and Monday (January 15) as a cold wave, accompanied by dense fog and chilling wind, swept Bangladesh.

The cold wave continued for the fourth consecutive day with the country’s lowest minimum temperature of 9 degrees Celsius recorded in Barishal on Monday.

For the first time in about a week, parts of Bangladesh saw the sun shine and the morning was rather clear, wrapped in a very thin layer of fog on Monday.

Air and river ports authorities said that traffic flowed uninterrupted in the early hours.

Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport Authorities said that dense fog in Kolkata caused the diversion of a flight to Dhaka.

Our Lalmonirhat Correspondent reported that six people died in Rangpur division from diseases caused by cold weather and burn injuries suffered from fire lit for warmth.

The deceased were Sokhina Bewa, 58, Aleya, 56, Tapan Chandra, 72, Jaba Rani, 2 months, Samiul Islam, 2 years, and Urmi Khatun, 3 years.

The deceased are from Rangpur, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, and Gaibandha.

The cold wave is also taking its toll on people engaged in outdoor activities, especially a large number of rickshaw pullers.

‘We are almost out of any food,’ said Monnaf Mia, a wage earner in Mohipur, Lalmonirhat, who could not go work in the crop fields of char due to severe cold.

Bangladesh Meteorological Department said that moderate to thick fog may occur today with chances of drizzle and light rain in Khulna division tomorrow.

On January 17, light rain or thunder shower was likely in Madaripur, Gopalganj, Dinajpur, Barishal and Bhola, said the BMD.

On Monday, Bangladesh’s highest temperature of 24.5C was recorded in Cox’s Bazar.

Correspondent from Rajshahi reported that 2,116 cold related patients were under treatment at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital against its capacity of 1200.