Dhaka: A mild cold wave is sweeping across the northern region of the country, disrupting normal life as temperatures continue to drop nationwide. The poor and vulnerable communities in the northern districts have been hardest hit by the cold wave, which has been accompanied by dense fog over the past few days. Residents of char areas along the Brahmaputra, Teesta, Dudhkumar, Gangadhar, and Dharla rivers are facing severe hardship, compounded by a lack of warm clothing and limited income opportunities.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, a bulletin from the Bangladesh Meteorological Department indicates that a mild cold wave is affecting the districts of Jashore, Chuadanga, Gopalganj, Rajshahi, Pabna, Sirajganj, and Nilphamari, and it may persist in some areas.
The lowest temperatures recorded at 9:00 am today included 13.5°C in Dhaka, 10.4°C in Rajshahi, 11.2°C in Rangpur, 11.5°C in Mymensingh, 11.5°C in Dinajpur, 11.4°C in Syedpur, 11°C in Tetulia, 11.4°C in Kurigram, and 9.6°C in Chuadanga. Jashore recorded a minimum of 9°C.
Officer-in-Charge of the Chuadanga Meteorological Office, Jaminur Rahman, noted that the lowest temperature in Chuadanga today was 9.6°C, compared to 9°C yesterday. He added that the air humidity was around 95 percent during this period.
Shah Alam, a boatman at Jatrapur Brahmaputra Ghat in Kurigram Sadar, expressed that the fog on the river has made boating risky, resulting in no income for two days. He added that residents in the char areas are struggling amid the severe cold, as sufficient winter clothing has yet to reach them despite government and private assistance.