RANGPUR, Jan 2, 2025 (BSS) - Like yesterday, a sweeping chilling cold wave
disrupted public life forcing many people to stay indoors and a fewer number
of vehicles moved on the roads with head-lights on in the northern region
today.
 
Although the minimum temperatures remained almost unchanged, the maximum
temperatures marked little rises during the past 24 hours ending at 6 pm
today.
 
However, the intensity of the biting cold remained mostly unchanged today,
exposing the poor, elderly people and children to miseries.
 
According to the Met Office sources, the minimum temperature of 12.5 degrees
Celsius was recorded today at Rangpur point like yesterday.
 
Besides, the minimum temperatures recorded today were 10.2 degrees Celsius
against yesterday's 10.6 degrees at Dinajpur, 11.8 degrees against
yesterday's 12.4 degrees at Saidpur, 12.5 degrees like yesterday at Dimla and
11.3 degrees against yesterday's 11 degrees Celsius at Rajarhat points in the
region.
 
The maximum temperatures ranged between 16.5 degrees and 20.4 degrees Celsius
today while the same ranged between 15.2 degrees and 18.6 degrees Celsius
yesterday in the northern region.
 
Although the sun appeared to be penetrating the thick layers of fog and
clouds around 4 pm for a few minutes at places, there was no respite from the
biting cold today in the region.
 
Clouds, mists and thick layers of fog apparently gave most parts of the
northern region a darker look amid blowing cooler wind from the western and
north-western directions since Tuesday night.
 
Local residents said the weather aggravated sufferings of those living
particularly on the sandy char and riverine areas in the region today.
 
Hospital sources said the doctors continued to treat a higher number of
people with cough, fever, asthma and other cold- related diseases at the
health facilities in the region in recent days.
 
However, there is an adequate stock of medicines and other health facilities
in the government-run hospitals and other health facilities to treat the
cold-related patients across Rangpur division.

Meanwhile, the district administrations, police, BGB and other organizations
and institutions have further intensified distribution of warm clothes among
the cold-stricken people to mitigate their sufferings.
 
District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer (DRRO) for Rangpur Md Motahar
Hossain said distribution of 25,000 pieces of blankets, allocated by the
government in two phases, among cold-stricken people of Rangpur district is
nearing completion.
 
The Deputy Commissioners, DRROs, UNOs and other officials and different
organizations have intensified distribution of warm clothes among cold-hit
people in all eight districts of Rangpur division.
 
Officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) at its regional
office here said the sweeping cold wave might affect normal growth of
different Rabi crop plants if the situation prolongs further for a few more
days.
 
"Our field level agriculture officers are assisting farmers in nursing
growing winter crop plants and Boro rice seedlings to save those from cold
injuries," Additional Director of the DAE's Rangpur region Agriculturist Md
Obaidur Rahman Mondal told BSS tonight.
 
He also advised farmers to irrigate Boro rice seedbeds at nights and
discharge water in the mornings and keep seedbeds under cover of polythene
sheets to save seedlings from foggy weather and cold injuries.
 
Reports reaching here from different areas of Rangpur, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat,
Gaibandha, Nilphamari, Dinajpur, Thakurgaon and Panchagarh said normal life
remained badly affected today like yesterday.