The country has experienced the lowest temperature of the year yesterday as mercury fell down to 6 degrees Celsius in Ishwardi.
Bangladesh Meteorological Department confirmed the information and added that it recorded 6.5 degrees Celsius in Sreemangal on December 18.
However, the highest temperature of 26.5 degrees Celsius was recorded in Cox’s Bazar, while in the capital the lowest temperature was 10.7 degrees Celsius yesterday.
The ongoing moderate cold wave with chilled wind and dense fog is sweeping across the country, causing difficulty in carrying on with regular life, especially for the poor people of the Northern districts.
The cold spell has also triggered cold related diseases including pneumonia, asthma and respiratory complications in the northern districts.
“At least 125 children have been admitted in Kurigram District Sadar Hospital yesterday with cold related complications,” said Dr Nazrul Islam, residential medical officer of the hospital.
Locals of Lalmonirhat said the intensity of the cold wave with the dense fog had paralysed the normal life in the areas near to the Himalayas.
Farm labourers were forced to leave their work because of the extreme cold, causing a significant wage hike in the area.
Some farm labourers have increased their daily wage to Tk360 where they used to receive Tk180, showing the effects of heavy cold, said land owner Meher Ali at Saptibari village of Aditmari upazila of Lalmonirhat.
The dense fog had also been disrupting the road and water transportations for the last few days. The ferry service on Mawa-Keurakandi and Paturia-Dawlatdia ghats were suspended for 12 hours because of heavy fog.
Sirajul Islam, manager of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation, Mawa, said water transports and ferry services were suspended to avoid accidents.
