The biting cold wave is blowing in Rangpur region including Kurigram district, the Himalayan belt at the end of Bangla month of Pousha good number of lower income generating group as well as day laborers are being suffered badly.

The whole district are covered with fog up to at11.00 am but the sun is not visible causing all kinds of vehicles are seen to move switching their respective headlights and the babies and old aged persons have been suffering from various cold related diseases for the last several days.

Talking to Afsar Ali 44 a van driver of Velakopa village under Kurigram municipality area  told that my hands and legs become senseless due to biting cold wave in the morning as I have to drive the in the morning with goods of others as well as vegetables because vegetables market begins from morning.

Sujon Miah 52 an Auto Rickshaw driverat KurigramDharla Bridge area told this correspondent that I have to maintain my family consisting five members from hand to mouth by my earning everyday causing finding no alternative way I have to compelled to drive the Auto Rickshaw for earning violating the dense fog and biting cold wave like ice. Sometimes although the sun is visible but the sunlight is powerless, some shopkeepers said.

Some poor and ultra-poor people are seen to warm themselvesin the road sides both urban and rural burning straw, wastage wood, papers etc. causing they are passing the winter whole days as idleness.

A good number of men, women and children who are suffering from cold related diseases of both are rushing towards upazila health complexes including Kurigram General Hospital to take treatment, hospital sources said.

On the other hand, the second hand cloth traders are doing brisk business as they passed idle times several days back but with the increasing cold wave, poor and lower income generating group are rushing to second hand cloth markets to buy winter clothes for his near and dear one.

Hamidul Islam 28 a second hand cloth trader of Kurigram Judge Court area told that the prices of second hand clothes have been increased as double than the last year causing the prices have also been increased here.

AbulKalam Azad 56 of Nasar Uddin Market narrated the same incident.

RabeyaKhayun 22 told that I have purchased two winter cardigans at Tk 600. I shall wear one and another for my younger sister. The prices have been increased, she added.

Although some govt. and non-govt. organizations have distributed among the cold-hit poor and ultra-poor persons recently but those are inadequate.

Kurigram Deputy Commissioner Mohammad SaidulArif said some 45 thousand blankets have already been distributed among cold hit poor people in union and upazila levels.