ছবি: ফাইল ছবি
Much of northern Bangladesh shivered under an intensifying cold wave on Friday as temperatures dipped sharply, with Tetulia registering the country’s lowest temperature of the season at 6.8°C, while a total of 20 districts experienced varying degrees of cold stress that disrupted daily activities; meteorologists warned that the cold wave may persist for at least two to three more days, possibly extending into mid-month with fluctuations in coverage and intensity, as dense fog reduced visibility to as low as 150–200 meters in several areas, hampering transportation and leaving commuters at risk; despite brief sunlight during midday, the return of thick fog in the afternoon, combined with high humidity and cold winds, created discomfort for schoolchildren, day laborers, rickshaw pullers, van drivers, and the urban homeless—many of whom struggled financially due to reduced work hours and falling income; health professionals reported increases in seasonal cold-related illnesses including cough, pneumonia, asthma, and respiratory complications, while agricultural analysts suggested that extended cold may impact winter vegetable production though losses remain uncertain; according to the Bangladesh Met Office, temperatures between 6–8°C are considered moderate cold waves, while 8–10°C indicates mild conditions, placing Tetulia and the northern belt at the epicenter of this year’s winter pattern; although Dhaka and coastal areas remained relatively warmer, the intensity and geographic spread of the cold wave underscored how winter continues to influence sectors ranging from transportation and farming to health and daily livelihoods, marking the northern region as the dominant zone of Bangladesh’s seasonal cold episode.
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