Panchagarh’s Tetulia stayed locked in a lowest temperature record for the seventh consecutive day.
A cold wave driven by icy northern winds continues to grip Bangladesh’s northernmost district.
The ongoing cold, combined with thick fog and heavy dew, has disrupted daily life in the region, hitting low-income residents and day labourers the hardest.
According to Tetulia Weather Observatory Centre, the minimum temperature was recorded at 7.5 degrees Celsius at 9am on Thursday. At the time, humidity stood at 100 percent, while wind speed ranged between 8 and 10 kilometres per hour.
A day earlier, on Wednesday, the minimum temperature was 8 degrees Celsius, with humidity at 98 percent and similar wind conditions.
Residents reported that biting cold conditions have persisted for several days. From evening until morning, thick fog blankets both rural and urban roads across the district. Visibility levels dropped sharply and hampered vehicular movement on highways. Many drivers were seen operating vehicles at reduced speeds to avoid accidents.
The prolonged cold spell and fog have caused severe hardship for daily wage earners and low-income groups. Many have been unable to leave home early in the morning for work due to the extreme cold. To cope, people were seen lighting fires with straw, dry leaves and firewood in villages and towns from dawn.
Malek Badsha, from Ranchandi area of Tetulia, said, “The cold makes our hands and feet numb, which is affecting our earnings.”
Echoing similar concerns, Babul Islam from Amarkhana area of Panchagarh Sadar said the cold has intensified over the past few days. “We cannot work properly due to the cold. With fog and wind, the severity of winter is increasing day by day,” he said.
Jitendranath Roy, acting officer-in-charge of the Tetulia Weather Observatory Centre, said temperatures have been fluctuating in recent days. “Today’s minimum temperature was 7.5 degrees Celsius. Tetulia has been recording the country’s lowest temperature for a week now,” he said.
The situation may persist for the next few days, he added.
