Winter brings sufferings to Lalmonirhat poor

Lalmonirhat: The winter, which has started hitting the district, bought sufferings to the poor people in five upazilas, specially in char areas.

Lack of warm clothes added miseries to the lower income group people. The poor have to wait for the assistance from government and non-government organizations as they cannot afford to buy warm clothes from market.

People in the northern border district nearest to the Himalayas are apprehending a sever cold wave this year with mercury dipping fast.  

Afsar Uddin, 52, a rickshaw puller of Votmari village in Hatibandha upazila, said, "I'm the only bread earner of my five-member family. I usually earn Tk 200 to 250 a day which is not enough to buy warm clothes.”

Rajapur UP chairman Mofazzal Hossain Mofa said sufferings to the people in the char land especially to the aged and children, have mounted as the winter starts hitting the district.

"People from remote char areas under my union have started gathering at my home and office for warm clothes. But, I've nothing to do for them as no government allocation has reached here yet," he saod.

Sources in the regional met office in Rangpur said, lowest 12 degree Celsius temperature has been recorded here in last six days. But, it was 16 degree at the corresponding period in last year.

District Relief and Rehabilitation Office sources said that some 375 blankets have been allocated for 45 unions and two municipalities. The allocation has already been sent to the respective upazilas two days ago, the sources said.


MS/TF/LY