Poor suffer most as cold wave rolls in
Cold wave likely to persist over the next four days and temperatures may drop further
A cold wave is sweeping over Bangladesh, causing sufferings to the poor and the elderly. The Met office said the cold wave is likely to continue for several more days, with temperatures likely to drop further.
The lowest temperature was recorded yesterday at 10.8 degrees Celsius at Rajarhat of Kurigram.
People outside the capital city, especially in the northern region, began the day with an icy and foggy morning. The sun was not visible in many districts.
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Scientists at the Dhaka met office have predicted that the cold wave is likely to persist over the next four days and temperatures may well go below 10 degrees Celsius in different parts of the country.
"The night temperature may drop to as low as 10.7 degrees Celsius in Rajshahi and 10.2 in Rangpur," said meteorologist Rashidul Islam.
The three-month outlook of the Met office predicted that one to two moderate and medium cold waves might hit the country in the last week of December.
A moderate cold wave refers to temperatures in the range of 8-10 degrees Celsius, while medium cold waves come within 6-8 degrees Celsius.
The lowest temperature in Dhaka was recorded at 16.2 degrees Celsius, which is 1.4 degrees Celsius colder than on the previous day.
The highest temperature was 29.6 degrees Celsius in Teknaf yesterday.
As in Dhaka, the sky over Chattogram on Wednesday was partly cloudy and dry. The area between late night and morning remained covered in heavy fog.
The lowest temperature in Chattogram city was recorded at 16.7 degrees Celsius.
Megnath Tanchanga, assistant met scientist at the Chattogram met office, said the night temperature might drop by 1-3 degrees Celsius in the area.
Cold hits the north most
People in the northern districts have been feeling the cold the most. In Dinajpur, the sun was not visible until mid-day. Heavy fog blanketed the district all day.
Many low-income people living on the banks of rivers in the region are severely suffering from the cold, as they do not have warm clothes.
"We are struggling to cope with the cold. We could not get to the fields for work. If this weather continues, we will have a scarcity of food," said Mokshadul Sarkar Mukul, a day-labourer in Fulbari, Dinajpur.
The minimum temperature in Rangpur city was recorded at 13.0 degrees Celsius.
A meteorologist in the region predicted that the temperature might fall further, especially at night.
The cold wave also hit the Rajshahi area as the city had the second-lowest temperature of 11.4 degrees Celsius on Wednesday.
People said with the advent of evening, fog covered the city. Lower-income people kept themselves warm by burning hay and wood.
