Three monkeys try to shield themselves from the ongoing cold wave by hugging one another. The photograph was taken from Dhaka Zoo on Monday. — FE photo by Shafiqul Alam The lowest ever temperature of the country's history was recorded 2.6 degrees Celsius in Tentulia upazila of Panchagarh districton Monday morning, hitting poor people hard, report agencies.
At least 12 people, including six children, died of cold-related diseases in Rajshahi, Kurigram and Thakurgaon districts in the last four days as the northern districts bear the brunt of a cold wave sweeping the country.
Zakir Hossain, an official at the Tentulia Meteorological observatory office, said the mercury fell to 2.6 degrees Celsius in the morning which is the lowest ever temperature in the history of last 67 years.
On Sunday, Bangladesh Met Office recorded the temperature at 8.5 degrees Celsius in the district.
"It is the lowest temperature since authorities started keeping records in 1948," Shamsuddin Ahmed, head of the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, told AFP.
Ahmed said Bangladesh was in the "grip of a severe cold wave", with temperatures dipping across all northern districts over the past few days.
The lowest temperature in the country's history was recorded at 2.8 degrees Celsius in Srimangal upazila of Moulvibazar district in 1968.
"The severe cold wave is likely to continue till January 10. The chilling condition may improve after that, however, the temperature may fall or rise within this period," Met office said.
The severe cold wave is sweeping Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions and the regions of Tangail, Srimangal and Chuadanga.
A mild to moderate cold wave is blowing over Mymensingh and Barisal divisions, rest parts of Dhaka, Sylhet and Khulna divisions and the regions of Sandwip, Sitakunda, Comilla and Noakhali and it may continue.
Bone-chilling cold and thick fog hit the people hard, especially in the north, forcing people to stay indoors. The season's first cold spell brought the normal life and businesses to almost standstill as people are facing hard time to deal with the shivering cold.
Bangladesh Met office recorded 2.9 degrees Celsius in Saidpur upazila and 3 degrees Celsius in Dimla of Nilphamari district, 3.1 degrees Celsius in Rajarhat upazila of Kurigram district, 3.2 degrees Celsius in Dinajpur district, 4degrees Celsius inBadalgachhi upazila in Naogaon district, 4.9 degrees Celsius in Rangpur district degrees Celsius, 5.3 degree Celsius in Rajshahi, 5.4 degrees Celsius in Chuadamga, 5.5 degrees Celsius in Ishwardi upazila of Pabna and Bogra district and 5.6 degrees Celsius in Jessore district.
Meanwhile, the lowest temperature in Dhaka was recorded 9.5 degrees Celsius in the morning.
On the other hand, the highest temperature was recorded 25.6 degrees Celsius in Teknaf of Cox's Bazar district.
Poor people, particularly the farmers and rickshaw-pullers, have been suffering badly due to the shivering cold. Children and elderly people have been the worst victims
In Rajshahi, four children died of cold-related afflictions at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) on Saturday, said assistant professor Dr Sanaul Haque, head of RMCH pediatric department.
In Kurigram, latest death caused by the cold in Kurigram Sadar Hospital brought the total number of deaths reported there to six since last Thursday (January 4).
Resident Medical Officer (acting) of Kurigram Sadar Hospital Dr Jahangir Alam said the newborn baby died of respiratory problem caused by cold weather on Sunday midnight.
The first two victims were a toddler and a newborn while the latest victims included three adults - Biswa Deb Roy, 30, Anwar Hossain, 55, and Dulali, 21 daughter of Abdus Sattar, suggesting an uptick in the weather's severity.
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