CHITTAGONG: A severe cold wave, accompanied by dense fog, has significantly disrupted daily life and transportation in Chattogram, affecting air, water, and road travel, and causing substantial inconvenience to residents.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the port city and surrounding district are grappling with biting cold and heavy fog as a cold wave engulfs various parts of the region. The local Met Office reported that the night temperature in Chattogram may experience a slight decrease, while remaining stable in other parts of the country over the next few days. However, a slight increase in temperature is anticipated from Saturday. The lowest temperature recorded today was 15.4 degrees Celsius at the city’s Patenga area.
The cold weather has led to a rise in cold-related illnesses, particularly among infants and the elderly, according to Dr. Mohammad Kutubuddin of Chattogram Medical College Hospital. People living on the streets have resorted to lighting fires to stay warm, as dense fog has kept the sun hidden from morning until early afternoon.
Transportation has been severely affected by the fog. Traffic Control sources at Chattogram Shah Amanat International Airport reported that the dense fog caused delays in both domestic and international flights, with operations being postponed by one to two hours. Omar Faruk, Secretary of the Chattogram Port Authority, noted that the movement of vessels through the port channel was halted for two to three hours during the early morning due to poor visibility.