The ongoing cold waves sweeping across the country are causing disruptions to the everyday lives of people across the country, especially those with limited means in Kurigram, Madaripur and Rajbari.
Cold spells accompanied by strong wind and heavy fog have also triggered cold-related diseases including pneumonia, asthma and respiratory complications. Children and elderly people are the worst victims of the harsh weather.
Sajid Hossain, an employee of Rajbari Sadar Hospital, said about 200 patients daily got admitted to the hospital with cold-related diseases.
However, lack of adequate machinery and overcrowding are hindering the treatment of patients at the hospital, many of whom were seen attended at the floors of hospital wards and corridors in the absence of adequate spaces.
Several patients suffering from cold complications died in the hospital in the past two weeks, sources said.
Meanwhile, dense fogs have also caused disruptions in communication in many places, especially in the waterways where several ferry operations had to be rescheduled because of lack of visibility.
The ferry service on the Mawa-Keurakandi route was suspended for nine hours due to the heavy fog on Tuesday night, causing hundreds of vehicles to remain stuck on both sides of the river.
Sirajul Islam, manager of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation, Mawa, said ferry services resumed after 9am yesterday after fog finally lifted.
Cold waves with dense fogs will continue for a few more days across the country, said sources at the met office.
The lowest temperature of the country yesterday was recorded at 10.7 degrees Celsius in Chuadanga while in the capital it was 14 degrees Celsius.