Drizzle with cold wave disrupts life

Drizzles along with cold wave from Sunday midnight has disrupted normal life in Thakurgaon and Panchagarh districts, forcing people to stay indoors and hampering business and official activities. 

Those who work on a daily basis are the worst sufferers as they have no alternative way to earn money without coming out of their homes.  

Rickshaw puller Ramjan Ali, 47, said, "Though it is hard to bear the cold amid rain, I have to pull a rickshaw to earn my living."

Sirajul Islam, 50, a day labourer, said, "I have to return home empty-handed as there is no work due to the rain and cold."

Shopkeepers in the town are passing idle time due to lack of customers.

Children and elderly people are crowding the district's Sadar Hospital with complaints of cold-related diseases, like pneumonia and cold diarrhoea. 

Deputy Commissioner of Thakurgaon Abdul Awal said the district administration distributed 17,677 blankets among the distressed people in the district.

Deputy Commissioner of Panchagarh Amal Krisna Mandal said the district administration distributed about 22,000 blankets among the cold-stricken people of different villages in five upazilas of the district.

Deputy Director of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in Thakurgaon Arshed Ali said the light rain will not affect crops, adding that early potato has been harvested and late planted potato will take more time to ripen.

Robi crops will not be affected if the farmers take care as per instructions of DAE officials, he added.