Early winter brings woe to poor people in Lalmonirhat

Early arrival of winter in the northern district this year adds to the sufferings of poor people, especially those living in the char (landmass emerged from riverbed) areas.

Despite bearing the brunt of mercury fall during the night and morning, the low income people are waiting for help from the government or non-government organisations as they cannot afford warm cloths from the market.

Local people said usually they face cold weather late November or early December but this year winter arrived before the mid-November.

"I struggle to maintain my five-member family with my daily income of Tk 130 to 150 and so, I don't have any money to purchase warm clothes," said Mansur Ali, 48, a day labourer at Kalmati char village in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila.

Rasheda Bewa, 65, of Char Boalmari village in Lalmonirhat Sadar said she has to beg for living but now she cannot go out in the morning due to severe cold for the last several days.

"For want of warm cloth, I tremble in cold during the night and morning," she added.

"Poor people, especially the aged ones and children, are badly suffering due to cold. Many people from char areas in my union come to my home and office for warm cloths but I can't do anything for them," said Mofazzal Hossain Mofa, chairman of Rajpur union parishad.

Mohammad Hossain, district relief and rehabilitation officer in Lalmonirhat, said he will send demand letter seeking allocation of warm cloths to the  ministry concerned soon to mitigate the sufferings of distressed people.