Poor bear the brunt

Sirajul Islam Shishir

Normal life of Sirajganj dwellers especially who live in Jamuna shoal (Char) areas are being disrupted drastically due to chilling cold wave that sweeping over the northern region for the last few days.

The poor and low income-groups of people are the worst sufferers as they have no affordability to purchase necessary warm clothes amidst soaring prices.

Though, the district administration has taken measure to provide blankets to the poor of nine upazilas in the district, the distribution has not yet been started, District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer’s (DRRO) office sources said.

Akhtaruzzaman, former DRRO in Sirajganj (who recently transferred to Tangail) told The Daily Sky that, Tk 3 lakh has been sanctioned for each upazila of the district to assist cold affected people. Besides, 10,000 pieces of blankets have already been allocated for the same purposes.

While contacted over cell phone on Tuesday, Rumana Reaz, Senior Assistant Commissioner and incumbent DRRO in Sirajganj, did not agree to make any comment at that time on the excuse of staying in Dhaka for her official works.

Therefore, the real scenario of the district administration’s initiatives could not be known immediately.

On the other hand, the cold hit people at different chars of the Jamuna river are facing immense sufferings for want of warm clothes. Many of them especially elderly men and kids are being affected with the cold borne diseases like diarrhoea, Pneumonia, cold-cough, asthma and others. Patients affected with the cold borne diseases are making crowd at different hospitals in district and upazila towns.

Asad, Traffic Inspector (TI) in Sirajganj said, “Traffic movement on different roads and highways are being disrupted at day time due to dense fog. However, drivers ply their vehicles switching the headlights to avert accidents, while the roads or highways remain highly fogy.”

“Not only that, Sirajganj Traffic Department has strengthened its patrolling on the risky roads and highways to ensure safety centering the cold wave,” he added.

Kulsum Bewa, 55, a widow of Kawakhola Char said, “We can’t lead our normal life due to biting cold. Besides, many people can’t join in work in the field despite beginning of the cultivation season. But, no one from any NGO or government has provided any assistant to us. If we were received warm clothes from any source, we would able to fight against the biting cold. But, lack of assistance, we are bearing the brunt of cold wave.”

The widow also urged the local administration to supply warm clothes and necessary healthcare services for the cold hit shoal people.

During a visit to different shopping malls and roadside shops in Sirajganj town, The Daily Sky correspondent found that, the sale of warm clothes has gain momentum. People from all walks of life crowded in front of the shops to purchase their chosen clothes. But, poor and low income group of people were facing trouble to purchase warm clothes due to high prices. Many poor and ultra poor people were seen to search warm clothes from roadside makeshift shops with a lower price. But, it was really nightmare for many of them.

Officials of Baghabari and Tarash met office said, “The proportion of cold severity may increase further and it may continue for the whole December. This is why, they suggested the people to take necessary preventive measures to protect themselves from severe cold and different cold borne diseases.