03 January 2004	Saturday	10 Ziqa'ad 1424

DHAKA, Jan 2 At least forty-nine more people died on Friday as the country experienced lowest temperature this year tallying the death toll from the cold wave to 53 in the last two days.

The wave seemingly paralysed the normal life in the capital and elsewhere in the country as overcast sky, fog and chilling north-easterly wind continued sweeping over the Bangladesh.

The declining mercury prompted meteorologists to issue warnings against the past two-days of "mild cold wave" which they said was likely to persist for at least three more days.

Thick fog also disrupted a number of national and international flights, ferry and launch service on Friday. According to details, nine died in Dinajpur, seven in Pabna, six in Gaibandha, four each in Chuadanga and Jessore, three each in Rajbari, Nilphamari, Saidpur and Lalmonirhat, two each in Faridpur, Jhenidha and Rajshahi and one in Ishwardi on Friday.

Earlier, on Thursday, cold wave claimed four lives in Pabna. Bangladesh had been receiving rains for the last couple of days adding to the miseries of the poor.

People preferred to stay indoor while the poor and homeless or shanty dwellers including minor children were seen igniting fires along the streets to protect themselves from the biting cold. Meanwhile, two domestic flights of Biman Bangladesh Airlines and GMG Airlines on Dhaka-Chittagong route were cancelled due to dense fog.