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By Md Mamun Islam
 
RANGPUR, Dec 29, 2025 (BSS) - The sweeping bone-chilling mild to moderate cold wave coupled with cooler wind kept normal life almost paralysed in the northern region causing untold sufferings to the people for the sixth consecutive day today. 
 
The intensity of the shivering cold wave increased during the past 24 hours ending at 6pm today as the minimum temperature ranged between 12 and 13.5 degrees today and maximum between 14.7 to 16.4 degrees Celsius in the region. 
 
The weather worsened as the gap between the maximum and minimum temperatures dropped to just two to three degrees Celsius, further exacerbating the suffering of the common people everywhere.
 
Due to the severe cold, most people have been forced to stay indoors, which has disrupted business and normal activities everywhere, including the riverine chars of the Brahmaputra basin . 
 
Today, the sun has been covered by clouds and fog throughout the day, so vehicles are moving with their headlights on. 
 
A large number of people, including men and women, are being found rushing to the makeshift and roadside markets for purchasing second-hand warm clothes despite the prices being almost double this time than last year.
 
Fewer numbers of people were seen outside on urgent need at the bazaars, markets, bus-stands and rail-stations today and suffering of the low income-group, day-labourers and char dwellers on the river basin mounted further. 
 
The district and upazila administrations, NGOs, dozens of voluntary, socio-cultural and charitable organisations have further intensified distribution of warm clothes among the distressed cold-hit people.
 
Officer-in-Charge of Rangpur Meteorological office meteorologist Md Mostafizar Rahman said both the minimum and maximum temperatures marked little fluctuations at places in the region today. 
 
"The difference between the minimum and maximum temperatures has dropped to a minimum and the sun has been obscured by clouds and fog, resulting in severe cold that has further exacerbated the suffering of the people today," he said.
  
The minimum temperatures recorded at 9 am today were 13.3 degrees Celsius at Rangpur city, 12.4 degrees at Dinajpur, 13 degrees at Saidpur, 12 degrees at Tentulia, 13 degrees at Dimla, 13.4 degrees at Rajarhat, 12.8 degrees at Thakurgaon, 13.2 degrees at Lalmonirhat and 13.5 degrees Celsius at Gaibandha points.
 
The maximum temperatures recorded at 3 pm today were 16.1 degrees Celsius at Rangpur city, 14.7 degrees at Dinajpur, 16 degrees at Saidpur, 16.2 degrees at Tentulia, 16 degrees at Dimla, 16.4 degrees at Rajarhat, 15 degrees at Thakurgaon, 16.3 degrees at Lalmonirhat and 15.2 degrees Celsius at Gaibandha points.
 
The number of patients with cough, fever, asthma and other climate change related diseases has increased in hospitals during the past few days.
 
Rangpur Divisional Director (Health) Dr Md Gausul Azim Chowdhury said steps have been taken in government hospitals and upazila health complexes to provide proper treatments to the increasing number of cold-related patients.
 
Meanwhile, each of the district administrations have received an allocation of Taka 41.80 lakh anew for purchasing warm clothes locally and distributing the same among the cold-stricken people.

District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer (DRRO) of Rangpur Md Golam Kibria said that distribution of 12,500 pieces of blankets and warm clothes purchased locally at Taka 48 has already been completed in all eight upazilas of the district.
 
“We have got an allocation of more Taka 41.80 lakh for purchasing warm clothes locally for distribution among the cold-hot people,” he added.
 
Kurigram DRRO Md Abdul Matin told BSS that distribution of 12,500 pieces of blankets received from the government and other warm clothes locally purchased at Taka 54 lakh is ending in all nine upazilas of the district.
 
“We are continuing the process of purchasing more warm clothes with the newly allocated money by the government for distributing among cold-stricken people of the district,” he added.
 
Meanwhile, Rangpur Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Enamul Ahsan distributed blankets among the cold-stricken and poor patients at different wards of Rangpur Medical College Hospital and other places at night in recent days.
 
The Upazila Nirbahi Officers are also distributing warm clothes among cold-hit people of different villages and remote char areas of Rangpur and other northern districts to mitigate sufferings of the affected people.