Mercury hits season\\\'s low at Ishwardi

The country recorded this season's coldest day in Ishwardi of Pabna on Saturday as mercury dropped to 7.2 degrees Celsius, report agencies.

An official at the Dhaka Met Office said Ishwardi recorded the country's lowest temperature of 7.2 degrees Celsius this season on Saturday.

He also said the prevailing countrywide cold wave might continue for two more days with the temperature dipping further. "Mercury may plummet further on December 30 and 31 as there is chance of rain."

The mild to moderate cold wave is sweeping over Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions and the regions of Tangail, Kushtia, Jessore and Satkhira and it may continue.

In Pabna at least 100 children with diarrhoea and pneumonia caused due to severe cold were admitted to different local hospitals in the last few days.

Severity of cold likely to prolong for 2 more days The bite of cold is being felt because of dense fog, less sun light, northern cold wind and decline in difference between the highest and lowest temperatures.

The lowest temperature in Dhaka was 12.3 degrees. The whole country is likely to witness moderate to dense fog at night, the Met office said.

Ferry services between Paturia and Daulatdia remained stopped for nine hours last night. The ferry services resumed at 5 am on Saturday.

In Chittagong operations of several international and domestic flights, which were scheduled to land or take off, faced an unusual delay at the Shah Amanat International Airport due to the dense fog-caused poor visibility.

Airport Manager Wing Commandar Nur-e-Alam said two flights of Biman Bangladesh Airlines and Air Arabia from Dubai and Sarjah which were scheduled to land at the airport around 8:30 am and 9 am respectively, landed at the Shahjalal International Airport due to the dense fog.

Besides, landing of several domestic flights was rescheduled in the wake of foggy weather, he said.

However, the operations of flights at the Shah Amanat International Airport here came back to normal around 10 am following disappearance of fog.

The Met office said moderate to thick fog may occur over the country at night. The night temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country and the day temperature may rise by 1-2 degree Celsius.