The ongoing mild cold wave sweeping across the country may linger for the next couple of days, intensifying the feeling of cold and increasing the cold-related diseases.
People, especially senior citizens and children, have been suffering badly because of the bone-chilling cold wave along with moderate to thick fog that continues to blanket the sunlight, particularly from midnight to late in the afternoon in most of the places in the country.
Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) data shows that some 64,117 cases of respiratory infection, including pneumonia cases were treated and 56 people died of the diseases across the country from November 15 till January 15.
The weather forecast suggests that light rain/drizzle is likely to occur at one or two places over the Khulna division while the weather may remain mainly dry with a temporary partly cloudy sky elsewhere over the country.
Amid an adverse weather pattern, the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) on Tuesday in a circular said the administration can keep schools shut if the temperature of a district falls below 10 degrees Celsius.
“A cold wave is sweeping different parts of the country and as a result, the educational activities are being seriously hampered. The regional deputy directors in consultation with the district education officers can keep the educational institutions under secondary level shut if the temperature drops below 10 degrees Celsius in any district,” reads the circular.
The institutions which will be shut due to low temperatures will remain closed until the temperature rises above 10 degrees Celsius.
The ongoing wave has also caused temporary disruptions in air navigation, inland river transport, and road communication, posing serious challenges to daily commutes and economic activities.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) anticipates this cold wave to persist for a while.
The lowest temperature was recorded at 9.7 degrees Celsius on Tuesday at Srimangal in Moulvibazar while Cox’s Bazar reported the highest at 24.5°C.
According to meteorological standards, temperatures ranging from 8 to 10 degrees Celsius signify a mild cold wave, 6 to 8 degrees Celsius a moderate one, and below 6 degrees Celsius a severe cold wave.
The weather forecast suggests dry conditions with temporary partly cloudy skies across the country, with no significant change in night and day temperatures expected.
The cold wave’s impact is palpable among the populace, with Dhaka residents and others feeling winter’s bite more acutely in recent days.
The northern regions are experiencing even harsher conditions, where the intense cold has significantly hampered daily activities. Vulnerable groups, particularly day labourers, children, and the elderly are the most affected by the severe cold.
