Tetulia upazila of Panchgarh’s temperature has gradually fallen from around 10°C, hitting a sudden drop to 8.9°C on Thursday.
At 9am humidity stood at 78 per cent. Earlier at 6am, the mercury had been 9.2°C, while the previous day’s minimum temperature was 10.4°C.
For days, cold winds blowing from the Himalayas have tightened their grip across Panchagarh and adjoining areas.
Although mornings bring some sunlight, it offers little warmth. People in rural parts, especially during night and early morning, are unable to venture outside without warm clothes. The impact has been particularly harsh on low-income families.
Hospitals across the district are also seeing a rise in patients suffering from cold-related illnesses. Outpatient departments remain crowded daily, mostly with children and the elderly. Those in more serious condition are being admitted for treatment.
Mizanur Rahman, a stone collector at the Mahananda River in Tetulia, said the icy water makes it extremely difficult to work in the morning. “I still have to get into the river because my family depends on my income,” he said.
A similar struggle was shared by Trishna Rani, a stone laborer from the Banglabandha land port area. “We came to Banglabandha to earn a living by collecting stones, but it is unbearably cold here. We are facing a lot of hardship, and no one checks on us,” she said.
Jitendra Nath, acting officer at the Tetulia First Class Meteorological Office, said 8.9°C reading is the lowest recorded this season. A mild cold wave is sweeping over the district, and temperatures may fall further in the coming days.
This year, the Department of Disaster Management allocated Tk30 lakh, with which 8,640 blankets have been purchased and distributed across 43 unions in five upazilas. An additional request for 65,000 blankets has been sent to the ministry.
