KISHOREGANJ, Jan 2: Chilling cold is prevailing in the district causing immense sufferings to people including low-income group mostly.
According to local sources, due to the cold along with dense fog, people including low-income groups, are suffering for want of warm clothes.
Day-labourers, agricultural labourers, and rickshaw-pullers cannot go out to manage livelihood. The worst sufferers are children and elderly people. They are being infected with different cold diseases including influenza, pneumonia, and asthma.
Even domestic animals are suffering. In Hoar areas this Boro cultivation season, farmers are finding it difficult to work in fields.
Daily earnings of lobourers and rickshaw-pullers have fallen sharply. In many places, people were seen keeping warmed by burning straws and stray materials.
Yet, low-income group are rushing to roadside makeshift shops in the district and upazila headquarters to buy warm clothes. But they have to bargain with sellers for asking for higher prices. One piece woollen sweater, which was sold at Tk 200-300 in the last year, is selling at Tk 400.
Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture Extension- Abul Kalam Azad said, farmers have started planting Boro saplings; but chilling cold is hampering their work a bit; there will be no problem if they plant saplings after two/three days.
District administration distributed about 10,000 blankets and cash Tk 84,50,000 in 13 upazilas and 8 municipalities in the district.
