A mild cold wave is sweeping across the country for the past few days and weather forecast says this weather pattern is expected to continue for the next two to three days.
People of in the northern regions of the country, including inhabitants of Dhaka city, have been experiencing such bone-shivering cold for the last couple of days.
Meanwhile, the winter intensified further with more cold waves on Monday (January 22). The minimum temperature in the country has dropped by 1.5 degrees Celsius in a day. Temperatures have dropped at all stations of Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD).
According to the weather bulletin of the BMD, the mercury in Dhaka city dropped to 12.3 degrees Celsius at 6:00 am on Monday accompanied by the north/north-westerly wind blowing at 6-10 kmph.
Weather expert Omar Faruk from the BMD said that the temperature
in Dhaka was recorded at 12.3 degrees Celsius on Monday morning. This marks the lowest temperature of this winter season in the capital city, he added.
In 24 hours, the temperature in Dhaka city decreased by over two degrees Celsius. The temperature was 14.4 degrees Celsius on Sunday.
In such a situation, moderate to thick fog covered the capital city with chilly winds. The drop in temperature is hampering the common life in the capital city and other parts of the country.
Hospitals in the capital city reported a rapid surge in admission in the number of cold-related patients. Hospitals in some other parts of the country are also struggling to cope with giving treatment to children and elderly patients.
Children and elderly people are suffering mostly from acute respiratory infections and pneumonia while elderly people are seeking treatment for asthma, bronchitis, acute respiratory infections and other cold infections.
Many hospitals have been flooded with patients suffering from various cold-related diseases. Many patients are even being treated on the floor and balconies of many hospitals.
Like Dhaka, most of the country is blanketed in fog. A total of 21 districts, including almost all the districts of Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions, are affected by the cold wave.
According to the BMD, the mild cold wave is affecting the districts, including Rajshahi, Rangpur, Pabna, Tangail, Madaripur, Jashore, Chuadanga, Kushtia, Kishoreganj, Naogaon, Panchagarh and Kurigram.
The BMD states that it rained in a couple of places in the country on Sunday. Rainfall may occur in some parts of the country on Wednesday as well.
The lowest temperature of 8.1°C on Monday was recorded in Dinajpur and Badalgachi upazila of Naogaon, while the highest temperature of 27.6°C in the previous day was recorded in Cox’s Bazar’s Teknaf upazila. On Sunday, the lowest temperature in the country was simultaneously recorded at three places – Rajshahi, Ishwardi and Badalgachi at 9.5 degrees Celsius.
A mild cold wave is defined when the minimum temperature falls below 10 degrees Celsius. A moderate cold wave is categorised by temperatures between 6 and 8 degrees Celsius, while temperatures below 6 degrees Celsius indicate a severe cold wave.
The 24-hour weather forecast from 9:00 am on Monday said that the weather across the country is likely to remain largely dry with partially cloudy skies throughout the day. Moderate to dense fog may form nationwide from midnight to the morning and may persist into the afternoon in some places.
The fog may disrupt road, river, and air traffic. Day and night temperatures may decrease slightly across the country.
The forecast for Wednesday suggests light rain or drizzles in the Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal and Chattogram divisions.
While the weather may remain largely dry with a temporary partly cloudy sky over the country, a ridge of sub-continental high extends up to West Bengal and adjoining areas.
A seasonal low also lies over South Bay, extending to North Bay. Furthermore, the weather bulletin predicts a slight decrease in night temperatures over the north-northeastern part of Bangladesh, while a minor increase is forecasted for other regions.
Earlier, in a drastic response to the severe cold, the authorities concerned on Monday announced the closure of schools in several other districts, including Bogura, Naogaon, Pabna, Natore, Nilphamari and Chapainawabganj.
Earlier on Sunday, educational institutions were closed in Rajshahi, Joypurhat and Kurigram for two days (January 21 and 22).
On 16 January, the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) issued a circular saying that the education authorities in any districts can close down schools in case the temperature drops below 10 degrees Celsius.
In Bogura, all primary and secondary level educational institutions in the district were declared closed for Monday due to severe cold.
District Education Officer Hazrat Ali said that all secondary educational institutions were declared closed and all upazila education offices were informed about this.
District Primary Education Officer Asaduzzaman Chowdhury said that all primary schools in the district were declared shut as the temperature dropped below 10 degrees Celsius.
Shah Alam, senior observer of Bogura Met Office, said that the district recorded the season’s lowest temperature at 9.1 degrees Celsius at 9:00 am on Monday. A mild cold wave has been sweeping across the district and it may persist this month, he said.
Meanwhile, educational institutions have remained open in Lalmonirhat. District Primary Education Officer Swapan Kumar Chowdhury said that the minimum temperature was recorded at 10 degrees Celsius on Sunday, so the primary schools, high schools, and madrasas were kept open.
