Severe winter conditions have tightened their grip on Gaibandha since the beginning of the year, with dense fog and biting cold winds disrupting daily life and intensifying hardship for working people.
The district recorded a temperature of 11.10 degrees Celsius on Sunday, while the sun remained hidden from morning until around 2pm.
Heavy dew continued to fall like light rain, and over the past several days temperatures have fluctuated between 11 and 13 degrees Celsius.
The persistent cold and chilling winds have left normal life badly affected, with children and the elderly facing the greatest risk.
The cold spell has also kept many day labourers away from work, as low visibility and freezing conditions made it difficult to go out for daily income.
In Dakshin Dhangara village of Ballamjhar Union under Gaibandha Sadar Upazila, 60-year-old Ismail Akand said the cold had become unbearable both day and night. “I cannot tolerate the cold anymore. There is no work and no warm clothes for us,” he said.
Hasan Ali, a resident of the Katatar area in Phulchari Upazila, said living beside the river had worsened their suffering. “Cold wind from the river rushes through the gaps of our house. We wrap ourselves in torn quilts just to survive the night,” he said.
Elderly Tawa Bibi from the same area said she was struggling badly in the cold. “At night the cold pours down like drizzle. During the day, the fog is so thick that we cannot go outside. My hands and feet feel frozen. Life is very hard. A warm cloth would make things much easier,” she said.
Farmers are also worried about possible losses. Saiful, a farmer from Boali village in Gaibandha sadar, said continuous fog was affecting seedbeds. “If this continues for a few more days, we will face serious losses,” he said.
Weather official Mostafizur Rahman from the Rangpur Weather Office said several northern districts were experiencing intense cold this season, including Gaibandha.
He explained that similar day and night temperatures were making the cold feel constant, adding that there was a possibility of further temperature drops in the coming days.
The ongoing cold spell has renewed calls for timely distribution of winter clothing and support for vulnerable communities across the district.
