A cold wave sweeping down from the north has intensified winter conditions in Panchagarh, with Tetulia once again recording the lowest temperature in Bangladesh.
Thick fog has been blanketing the district from evening until late morning, while heavy dew has added to the biting chill. As a result, low-income residents are struggling to cope.
At 9am on Thursday, the Tetulia Weather Observation Centre recorded a minimum temperature of 12°C, the lowest in the country for the day.
A visit to various parts of the district showed that although sunlight brings some warmth during the day, the cold returns sharply after sunset.
As night deepens, dense fog settles across the area, continuing until morning. The harsh conditions have left daily wage earners – particularly stone workers, tea labourers and low-income families – in increasing difficulty, as many are unable to reach work on time due to the cold.
Hospitals are also seeing a rise in seasonal illness. The Panchagarh Modern Sadar Hospital and four upazila health complexes have reported an increase in patients suffering from cold-related ailments, with children and the elderly most affected.
According to the Met Office, Panchagarh experiences severe winter due to its proximity to the Himalayas. Chilly winds from the north cause sharp drops in temperature, which has been fluctuating between 11°C and 13°C over the past week.
Shahjahan Ali, a resident of the district town, said, “The cold has been getting stronger over the past few days. Even if the sun comes out, the temperature drops again after evening.”
Sajina Begum, a stone labourer at the Banglabandha land port area, shared similar concerns.
“It is extremely cold when we come to work in the morning. Sometimes we’re late because of it. We are poor people, if we don’t work, we don’t survive. So we work even in this cold,” she said.
Jitendranath Roy, acting in-charge of the Tetulia Weather Observation Centre, confirmed the temperature reading and added that the cold may intensify further in the coming week.
