The victims died of respiratory and cold related diseases, our correspondents from different districts report.

Children and the elderly are the primary victims of the bone chilling cold spell. People of all ages from the lower income group have been going through immense sufferings during the cold wave as they can neither go out for work nor can they afford to buy warm clothes. These less privileged group of the population are struggling to ward off the bitter cold by wrapping themselves with gunnysacks, torn kantha (quilt) or any such items they can afford.

Different hospitals and clinics have been experiencing an influx of patients with cold related diseases, our correspondents report.

The meteorological office said that mercury gradually rose in almost all areas during the last 24 hours. Sources at the met office said the situation in the northern region and elsewhere would continue to improve in next 24 hours.

The met office however told The Daily Star that dense fog will persist over the river basins during nights.

The lowest temperature, 8.8 degrees Celsius, was recorded in Rajshahi while the highest being 26.5 degrees in Cox's Bazar.

The lowest temperature in the capital yesterday was 12 degrees Celsius, 18.9 degrees was the highest.

The sun was not visible in most places in the northern region until around 9:00am yesterday.

Meanwhile, the capital experienced another chilly day while the sun stayed behind the fog till noon. Nippy weather coupled with political blockade programme confined most of the city dwellers to their homes yesterday.

The food and disaster management ministry has urged, welfare organisations, social workers and the affluent to come forward and help the cold affected people in different parts of the country.

The ministry said in a handout that it has already distributed five metric tons of warm clothes and 1,12,500 blankets to the cold affected people throughout different districts and upazilas. However, according to reports, there are 19,00,000 extreme poor and homeless people in the country that had been affected by the cold wave.

Our Patuakhali correspondent reports, the cold wave has claimed four lives in the district in the last 36 hours including two newborn babies.

Our Sathkhira correspondent reports, the cold wave has claimed at least eight people till last night since it lashed out a couple of days back. The victims include a four-day-old infant, a month-old baby and six elderly people.

In Barisal, at least five people died in the last 24 hours due to the ongoing cold spell, reports our correspondent.

Heavy fog that blanketed almost the whole country continued to disrupt road and river communication.

Transport vehicles and water vessels, all experienced serious delays in reaching their destinations amid hazardous conditions -- sometimes from 8 to10 hours.

A staggering number of 50 water vessels were delayed for upto 8 to 9 hours and reached Chandpur river terminal from southern parts last evening, reports our Chandpur correspondent.

More than 300 patients have been undergoing treatment for the last three days in Rajshahi Medical College Hospital for respiratory diseases caused by the cold wave, our Rajshahi University correspondent reports.

The number of admission in three days at RMCH has already exceeded last three years' records of the hospital. The situation is getting worse as more patients from various northern districts are arriving for admission, official sources said.

Of the admitted patients, 33 children and 24 elderly were admitted with respiratory complications, 25 with diarrhoea and 31 with hypertension and heart diseases, according to the sources.