The intense cold coupled with the chilly wind has increased the severity of the winter in the northern districts of the country. People are struggling to cope with the intense cold. Daily life has been thrown into disarray in the northern part of the country as the region has experienced the coldest day of this winter season.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) recorded the lowest temperature in Panchagarh on Friday. This year’s lowest temperature was recorded at 5.8° Celsius at Tentulia of the district on Friday morning. On the other hand, the temperature in Kurigram, another district of Northern Bangladesh, has been recorded at 6.8° Celsius and 7.8° Celsius at Badalgachhi of Naogaon.
Earlier on January 23, the lowest temperature of the season was recorded at 6.6C in Chuadanga and Sirajganj.
Although the severity of the cold further intensified in the northern parts, it has slightly decreased in the capital. The lowest temperature in the capital has also increased.
The BMD in its regular weather bulletin said that a cold wave is sweeping over 12 districts of the country, including Panchagarh. The cold wave has further intensified on Friday.
The temperature did not rise that much on Thursday or Friday. However, it may rise after that. The temperature in the capital will remain almost unchanged.
AKM Nazmul Haque, a meteorologist of the BMD, said that the cold wave is sweeping over the entire Rangpur division, including Panchagarh. Apart from the Rangpur division, a mild cold wave is sweeping over Rajshahi, Pabna, Chuadanga and Naogaon.
However, the temperature has increased in the capital. The lowest temperature in the capital was recorded at 15.4° Celsius on Friday, which was 14.2° Celsius on Thursday.
Although the chances of rain are low in the coming few days, it is likely to rain on 31 January, according to the weather forecast of the BMD.
Meanwhile, Panchagarh and Kurigram districts are enduring biting cold weather in the month of Magh.
The moderate cold wave is sweeping across the two districts and the nearby districts, affecting the daily lives of the people.
Thick fog has enveloped the entire northern region, discouraging people from venturing outside unless necessary. Vehicles are moving with headlights on.
Rokonuzzaman, an observer of the Tentulia weather observatory centre, said that the country’s lowest temperature was recorded at 6:00 am in Tetulia. The same temperature was recorded at 9:00 am.
The lowest temperature at 6.8 degrees Celsius was recorded in Kurigram at 9:00 am on Friday. However, the minimum temperature was 9.4 degrees Celsius on Thursday. The drop in temperature has led to discomfort in the Brahmaputra, Dharala, Teesta, Dudhkumar, and 16 other riverside areas, affecting the lives of the population.
Hospitals in the Kurigram district have reported an surge in cases of diarrhoea, pneumonia, respiratory distress, colds, and coughs among patients affected by cold-related illnesses.
With the temperature below 10 degrees Celsius, about 2,000 primary and secondary educational institutions in the district remain closed.
Many people of Panchagarh, Kurigram and other northern districts have been unable to work due to the extreme cold for the last couple of days. The daily wage earners in the region are particularly affected, with many facing difficulties due to severe cold.
Subal Chandra Sarkar, in charge of Kurigram’s Rajarhat Agriculture Weather Office, said that it is common for such temperatures to occur in January. However, after January 28, there might be a slight increase in temperature.
The residents are bracing themselves for the continuing cold wave, hoping for relief in the coming days.
According to the sources of the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, 2018 was the coldest in recent years. On January 8 of that year, the temperature dropped to 2.6°C in Panchagarh’s Tentulia, which is the lowest temperature recorded in the history of Bangladesh.
On January 10, 2013, the lowest temperature was recorded at 3°C in Syedpur. Earlier, the lowest temperature recorded in Dinajpur was 3.8°C in 1996.
Besides, in 2019, a temperature of 4.9°C was recorded in Tentulia, 4.5°C was recorded in Jashore on January 12, 2011, and 5°C was recorded in Kurigram in 2017.
