Hospitals and clinics in several districts of the country are currently full to the brim with patients suffering from cold related-diseases, including diarrhea and pneumonia.
The children’s ward at Feni Sadar Hospital has already admitted patients double its capacity while at least 16 children have reportedly died in the past six days till Saturday from cold, diarrhoea, pneumonia, and other cold-related diseases at the Rangpur Medical College Hospital.
Besides, over 300 children have been admitted to the hospital. Relatives said that many are forced to sleep on the floor without getting space in the hospital's children's wards.
On the other hand, hundreds of affected children from neighbouring districts, including Rangpur city, and their mothers were found waiting outside the hospital in long queues in front of the children's department since morning.
Barisal Divisional Health Officer Dr Shyamal Krishna Mandal on Saturday said more than 1200 children have been admitted to different hospitals with cold-related diseases.
Doctors have warned that the ongoing cold wave might get more people, especially children and the elderly, ill and advised them to stay warm.
Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) on Saturday said that a mild cold wave is sweeping over parts of the country, and it may continue.
According to the regular weather bulletin, a mild cold wave is sweeping over Rangpur division and the districts of Rajshahi, Pabna, Naogaon, Chuadanga and Kushtia, and it may continue.
Temperature between 8 and 10 degrees Celsius is considered a mild cold wave, 6 and 8 degrees Celsius a moderate cold wave, and less than 6 degrees Celsius a severe cold wave.
The lowest temperature in the country on Saturday was recorded at 8.8 degrees Celsius in Dinajpur while the highest temperature was recorded at 26.4 degrees Celsius in Teknaf.
Moderate to thick fog may occur over the country between midnight and morning and may continue till noon at several places.
Air navigation, inland river transport and road communication may be disrupted temporarily due to fog.
Weather may remain dry with temporary partly cloudy skies over the country.
Meanwhile, people around the country, including residents of Dhaka, have been feeling the pinch of winter in the last couple of days due to the dip in mercury.
Most people preferred to stay indoors owing to the bitter cold.
Besides, people in the northern part of the country have been experiencing bone-chilling cold for the last couple of days that disrupted daily activities.
Day laborers, children, and the elderly are worst hit by the cold.
Our correspondents Rafiqul Islam from Feni, Anisur Rahman Swapan from Barisal and Liakat Ali Badal from Rangpur contributed to the report
