Roundup: Bangladesh records lowest temperature in 5 decades, 12 cold-related deaths reported

DHAKA, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Bangladesh Monday recorded the lowest temperature in five decades as mercury dipped to a chilling 2.6 degrees centigrade.

Bone chilling cold slows the wheels of life in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka and elsewhere in the country.

The severe cold wave sweeping through Bangladesh brought the normal life and businesses to almost standstill, particularly in the country's northern region facing the Himalayan mountains.

A thick blanket of fog accompanied by icy winds left people in the country shivering in the early hours on Monday.

Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) says the previous lowest temperature recorded 2.8 degrees centigrade in 1968.

Ayesha Khatun, a senior meteorologist, told Xinhua Monday, "Mercury plunged to its lowest 2.6 degrees centigrade in the country's northern most sub-district, Tentulia, within Panchagarh district, 468 km away of capital Dhaka."

"This time the temperature drops abnormally."

BMD recorded Dhaka's temperature at 9.5 degrees centigrade Monday which is also the lowest in many years in the capital city of about 15 million people.

Sky over the capital and most parts of the country remained cloudy for the last couple of days while cars and buses are running by switching on headlights in day time on many Dhaka streets.

Sunlight is reportedly completely absent in the country's northern districts due to dense fog.

In Dhaka and elsewhere in the country, hundreds of floating people, mainly street children and elderly people, have been facing hard time due to the cold spell.

Poor people in Dhaka are seen take warm by firing woods on Monday.

Sickness is rampant among these poor floating people.

According to local media, as many as 12 people have so far died in three northern Bangladesh districts by the cold spell.

The freezing weather may continue for three more days, Khatun said. Enditem