Shivering cold, thick fog disrupt public life in 8 Rangpur upazilas

RANGPUR, Dec 13: Shivering cold accompanied by thick fog for the last few days has disrupted life in 8 upazilas under Rangpur district. Due to foggy weather coupled with bone chilling cold   normal activities came to a standstill.
Daily bread earners, especially the farm labourers, are the worst victims as they could hardly work in their respective fields to earn their livelihood
Normal activities of the people came to a halt because of the sudden fall in temperature which dipped to 12 to 13 degree Celsius during last few days. Rangpur Met office recorded this season's lowest temperature at 12 degree Celsius on Wednesday in the district.   As people are compelled to stay indoors, business and official activities are seriously being hindered while attendance in the schools and colleges has decreased drastically.
Meanwhile, cold related diseases like diarrhoea, pneumonia and asthma have broken out in the region alarmingly, Rangpur medical sources said. At least 19 people including 13 children died from different cold related diseases in the district during last 8 days, sources added.
Due to lack of money the day labourers are unable to purchase winter clothes as they cannot go out for work owing to dense fog and biting cold. They are also passing days in near starvation.
A number of farm labourers including Khabir Uddin, Razab Ali and Sabu Miah of Char Nazirdaho village at Kawnia upazila told The Financial Express that they went to work in local crop lands in the morning but failed to stay there for more than 1 to 2 hours owing to intense cold, they further said.
People living in the char areas beside Teesta, and other rivers of the region are the worst affected. Thousands of people in the district have been passing days miserably without warm clothes. Ataur (67) at Char Dhushmara village under Kawnia upazila told FE that there seems to be nobody to feel the sufferings of the rural poor as neither the government nor any non-government organisation has come forward to ease their sufferings.
Many poor people are trying to get rid of the biting cold with heat from burning straw and old tyre. Many were found crowded beside makeshift shops in the footpaths to buy warm clothes despite higher prices.
District relief officer Rangpur Abdus Salam said distribution of warm clothes is going on. As stock of warm cloth is scarce they have already sent emergency message to the concerned ministry for more allotment", he added.
    sayed.haqbd@gmail.com