The first spell of cold wave of this winter also affected hundreds with respiratory and cold related diseases.

Our sources at the meteorological department say temperature in the region dropped sharply without much fluctuation. Average lowest temperature recorded in most northern districts yesterday was around 10 degrees Celsius, 8 degrees Celsius in Rajshahi being the lowest of them all. The highest temperature, 25.4, was recorded in Jessore.

Besides extreme cold, heavy fog is also adding to the sufferings of the locals as poor visibility has been disrupting vehicle movement on the streets. The sun was not visible before noon at most places of the region.

The met office sources also said this mild cold wave is likely to reach Tangail and Mymensingh after sweeping through all districts of Rajshahi division.

In Nilphamari, Alema Bewa, 78, of Char Khori Bari under Dimla upazila and Kafil Uddin, 69, of Golmunda village under Jaldhaka upazila, died of respiratory complications, reports our correspondent.

At least 50 people with cold related diseases were also admitted to different health complexes in the district in the last two days, said control room of the district health department.

The civil surgeon's office sources said many of the health complexes do not have nebulisers -- a life saving equipment used for the treatment of asthmatic symptoms.

UNB reports, at least 15 people died in cold wave in Panchagarh, Kurigram and Gaibandha since January 1.

The cold wave victims in Panchagarh are Moqbul Hossain, 60, of Baburamjoth, Rafiqul Islam, 55, of Daulatpara, Reazul Islam, 45, of Fakirpara, Budharu Mohammad, 62, of Dalalpara, Fazlul Haq, 50, of Dangirhat, Kofo Mia, 72, of Sardarpara, a newborn child of Rezaul Karim of Masjidpara and Asiruddin Kaku, 75, of Islambagh.

Victims in Kurigram are Abdul Jalil, 70, of Tantipara, five-day old infant of Jot Ghorwa, Abdus Sabur Khan, 55, of Shaheber Alga and Hasan Ali, 60, of Katlamari village.

In Gaibandha, three died in the cold wave. They are Mainul Haq, 72, Asma Bewa, 65, of Char Kapasia and a minor Aminul Islam of Belka village.

In Rangpur, at least 29 people including 19 children affected by the cold wave were admitted to Rangpur Medical College Hospital. However, they are yet to get necessary treatment as most of the doctors were still on leave for the Eid holidays, reports our correspondent.

Bitter cold has confined almost all to their houses. People from the lower income group, especially the day labourers, are suffering the most as they can neither go out for work nor can they afford to buy warm clothes, our correspondents in Nilphamari and Rangpur report.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Nilphamari Khondokar Moklesur Rahman has sent an emergency fax message yesterday to Dhaka seeking ten thousand blankets immediately as the district relief office does not have sufficient warm clothes to distribute among the poor, our correspondent in Nilphamari reports.

DC of Rangpur Khandker Atiar Rahman told our Rangpur correspondent, "This is the first cold spell this season. We were not prepared for it. We are now observing the situation. If it deteriorates, we will seek worm clothes from the ministry concerned."