In the Indurkani upazila of Pirojpur, public life has been severely disrupted by the severe cold. Due to the cold wind and dense fog, the sun has not been visible until noon for the past few days. Normal life is being severely disrupted due to the onset of cold. Low-income people are suffering the most.
Farmers and poor families are facing extreme difficulty in providing food for cows, goats, and poultry due to the severe cold. It has been seen that poor families are living in inhuman conditions in various areas including Parerhat, Saidkhali, and Guchchagram in the upazila.
Many are spending their days in hardship due to the lack of adequate winter clothing. As the severity of the cold increases, the crowd of customers has increased in the upazila's warm clothing shops and sidewalk shops. Low and middle-income people are flocking to old warm clothes shops to buy winter clothes at low prices. As a result, the business of old warm clothes is now bustling in different areas of the upazila. It has been seen on the spot that various types of winter clothes including sweaters, jackets, blankets, sheets, blazers, mufflers and thick shirts are being sold in these shops. Since these clothes are available at comparatively low prices, low-income people are the main buyers of these shops. Various types of jackets are available here between 100 and 300 taka and sweaters, thick shirts and sheets between 100 and 350 taka. Rickshaw puller Hanif said, “The winter has increased a lot, but so far I have not received any blankets from the government or private sector. I was forced to buy a blanket from a sidewalk shop for 120 taka.”
Day laborer Shahajahas said, "I bought a jacket for 150 taka. When I asked political leaders for a blanket, they said that it was not possible to give it due to the election code of conduct. Therefore, the government needs to distribute blankets to the poor quickly."
When asked about this, Upazila Executive Officer and Administrator Hasan Md. Hafizur Rahman said, "The government will distribute winter clothes to the poor and cold-stricken people. This distribution program is being started in phases."
In this regard, the Upazila Health Officer said, "Due to the severe cold, the incidence of various diseases including colds, pneumonia and respiratory problems has increased among children and the elderly. Doctors said that these problems occur more often due to the decrease in immunity in winter. They advised children and the elderly to wear warm clothes, avoid cold air and seek medical attention quickly if they are sick."
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