Life across Bangladesh has been brought to a standstill by biting cold and dense fog, with treacherous winter conditions triggering fatal road accidents and disrupting transport links, authorities say.
As the country moves into mid-Poush, winter has tightened its grip. Although the sun appears briefly during the day, nights and early mornings have been engulfed by thick fog, severely reducing visibility. Even vehicles using fog lights are struggling to see short distances, making roads increasingly dangerous.
Bangladesh Meteorological Department says there is little chance of relief in the coming days. In its forecast issued on Friday, it warned that high humidity and light winds are intensifying the cold sensation, while overall weather conditions are expected to remain largely unchanged for at least the next 120 hours.
Jessore recorded the country’s lowest temperature for the second consecutive day on Friday. According to the Jessore Air Force weather office, the minimum temperature there fell to 8°C, following 7.8°C recorded a day earlier — the lowest of the season nationwide. Overall, Jessore has recorded the country’s lowest temperature on four days this winter.
In the northern border district of Panchagarh, mild cold wave conditions continue. Jitendranath Roy, acting officer at the Tetulia weather observatory, said the minimum temperature there was 9.4°C at 9am on Friday, slightly higher than Thursday’s 9°C. Humidity stood at 94%, with winds blowing at 8–10 kilometres per hour, further deepening the chill.
Meteorologists warn that dense fog is likely to form in many parts of the country from Friday night, potentially lingering until midday in some areas. This could temporarily disrupt road, river and air transport, while the ongoing mild cold wave may spread to additional districts.
Daytime temperatures on Saturday are expected to remain nearly unchanged, with a slight rise in night temperatures. From Sunday, skies may turn partly cloudy, while moderate to dense fog could form over river basins after midnight. Both day and night temperatures may dip slightly. Similar conditions are forecast to persist through Monday and Tuesday.
Hospitals under pressure
The prolonged cold spell is also taking a toll on public health. Hospitals are reporting a sharp rise in cold-related illnesses, particularly among children. TIMES of Bangladesh Magura correspondent reports that the number of paediatric patients admitted to the district hospital with cold-related conditions has increased alarmingly over the past few days.
Fatal crashes in dense fog
The hazardous weather has already proven deadly. At least two people were killed and 42 others injured in separate road accidents on Thursday night in Munshiganj and Gaibandha, amid extremely poor visibility caused by dense fog, TIMES correspondents report. A total of eight vehicles, including passenger buses and trucks, were badly damaged.
According to TIMES correspondent in Munshiganj, heavy fog triggered a series of collisions involving at least 10 vehicles on the Dhaka–Mawa Expressway. Fire Service officials rescued at least 34 injured passengers from the scene.
Deowan Azad Hossain, station officer of Srinagar Fire Service, said the injured were taken to Srinagar Health Complex, Dhaka Medical College Hospital, and Faridpur Medical College Hospital.
Meanwhile, TIMES correspondent in Gaibandha reported that a passenger bus crashed into the back of a cement-laden truck on the Gaibandha–Palashbari regional road after the driver failed to see it through the fog. Two bus passengers were killed, and at least eight others were seriously injured.
Palashbari police chief Sarwar Alam Khan said preliminary findings suggest the accident was caused by dense fog combined with high speed. The bus has been seized, but the driver remains on the run.
With dense fog, freezing temperatures and poor visibility expected to persist, authorities are urging caution, warning that Bangladesh’s winter roads have become increasingly perilous.
