The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Normal life in the capital and outside was disrupted for the third consecutive day yesterday as continuous drizzles and chilly wind coupled with dense fog blanketed the country.

The cold spell and inclement weather particularly affected the low-income group of people mounting their sufferings and paralyzing their normal lives.

The Meteorological office forecast yesterday that another cold wave is underway within the next two to three days.

In most of the cities and towns, traffic was thin on streets, shopping malls and kitchen markets had a very bad day as people ventured to go out only to meet urgent needs.

The chilly weather also hampered farming as many peasants could not go out to work and farm labourers were staying at their houses finding no work. Since there is little or no work available, poor people in both rural and urban areas have been passing their days borrowing money from each other.

Besides, attendance of students at schools and colleges in rural areas has gone down due to the inclement weather.

The lowest temperature in the country yesterday--12.7 degrees was recorded at Rangpur. In Dhaka, the lowest temperature was 15.7 degrees, which was 5 to 7 degrees Celsius higher than the normal temperature.

On the other hand, the highest 44mm rainfall was recorded in Jessore.

Dhaka, Khulna, Barisal, Jessore, Patuakhali and many other areas of the country also experienced rainfall, the Met office said.

According to the Met office, there is no possibility of change in today's (Sunday) weather. However, the night-time temperature may go down to 10 degree Celsius. The temperature will fall in different parts of Rajshahi division, resulting in more cold spells.

In the capital, difference of minimum and maximum temperature was only 2.4 degrees Celsius causing the biting cold.

People living in the open were seen covering themselves and their belongings with polythene sheets.

Price of many items, including rice in kitchen markets further shot up yesterday as supply was disrupted.

Wholesalers blamed inclement weather behind the fresh price hike of rice.

Visiting Badamtoli and Babubazar, two largest wholesale rice markets in city yesterday, this correspondent found that the prices of rice had increased by Tk 20 to Tk 40 per maund.

The wholesalers said the supply of rice to the wholesale markets had gone down during the last three days due to foul weather.

They said the rice producers in the northern districts could not dry up their rice due to constant drizzles and bad weather.

Besides, transportation of rice has been hampered due to dense fog. The impact of short supply of rice has fallen on wholesale markets.

Our correspondents in Rajshahi, Rangpur and Bogra report: A cold wave was sweeping over the districts for the last four days, coupled with drizzles.

Hundreds of people living on streets, river embankments and open spaces suffered the most.

The district administration of Rangpur sought 20,000 pieces of blankets and equal numbers of sweaters, jackets and children's clothes for distribution among distressed people.

Our correspondents in southern districts reported that severe cold and rains affected economic and other activities in the entire region yesterday.

Met office sources said the highest and the lowest temperatures in the region on the day were almost the same.