At least seven people died and 2,900 fell ill in the past day alone from diarrhoea, which can lead to fatal dehydration if not promptly treated, a spokesman for the government's health directorate said.

In the capital Dhaka, 40 children have died of bronchitis and pneumonia in the past two weeks, the mass-circulation daily Janakantha reported.

Respiratory disease is common in Bangladesh when the monsoon season changes to winter, as the dry weather makes air pollution more potent.

Dhaka, with more than 10 million residents, is one of the most polluted cities in the world.

But the city has seen some improvement since the government last year banned three-wheeler taxis that emitted toxic fumes.

One meteorologist said air quality has worsened since October when six months of strong winds ended.

TERRA.WIRE