The mild cold wave sweeping across northern region of the country continued for the third consecutive day on Thursday, affecting normal life. While maximum temperatures rose slightly, minimum temperatures remained mostly unchanged, keeping the chill intact.
The sky stayed partly cloudy and misty until noon, with cold winds blowing from the west and northwest. Poor residents of riverbank and char areas in the Brahmaputra basin continued to suffer, staying indoors as business and daily activities were partially disrupted.
Officer-in-Charge of Rangpur Meteorological Office Md Mostafizar Rahman said the temperature gap widened slightly compared to the previous day, but the cold remained intense. Rangpur city recorded a minimum of 11.2°C and a maximum of 20°C, while other northern towns reported similar chilly conditions.
Local hospitals have seen a rise in patients suffering from cough, fever, asthma, and other cold-related ailments. Rangpur Divisional Health Director Dr Md Gausul Azim Chowdhury assured that sufficient medicines and treatments are available across government hospitals and upazila health complexes.
District administrations, NGOs, voluntary groups, socio-cultural organizations, and businesses have stepped in to distribute warm clothing and blankets. Rangpur DRRO Md Golam Kibria said 7,500 blankets and Taka 48 lakh have been allocated for distribution, while Kurigram DRRO Md Abdul Matin reported a similar support package. Additional supplies are expected soon for other affected districts.
Reports from remote riverine char areas in Rangpur, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Gaibandha, and Nilphamari indicate that daily life remains severely disrupted for cold-hit residents.
