Bone-chilling cold has gripped the country in mid-January when minimum temperature has dropped more than previous days, disrupting the normal life severely.
Though the cold wave is sweeping over a few districts, the sufferings of people across the country, including Dhaka, have mounted. Meteorologists say that cold weather will continue throughout January.
According to the regular weather bulletin, the country’s lowest temperature--8.8 degrees Celsius--was recorded at Dinajpur on Saturday while it was 9.5 degrees Celsius at Chuadanga.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department in its weather forecast said a mild cold wave sweeping over Rangpur division and the districts of Rajshahi, Pabna, Naogaon, Chuadanga, and Kushtia may continue on Sunday. Night and day temperatures may remain nearly unchanged over the country. Cold weather conditions are likely to prevail in places over the country.
As the difference between maximum and minimum temperature decreases in most of the districts, the intensity of cold is increasing and it is becoming more severe in some places. In addition, there is a possibility of rain in some parts of the country from Thursday.
People of the country have been feeling the chill for the last couple of days as mercury has dropped significantly. Most people preferred to stay indoors due to severe cold.
Like other parts of the country, the minimum temperature in Dhaka has also dropped more than Friday. The minimum temperature recorded in Dhaka was 13.9 degrees Celsius on Saturday.
Shah Ali Jehad, a private tutor said, “I’m feeling an intense cold for few days. The sudden shivering cold causes several health issues, especially for those who have weak immune systems. It is hard for them who used to sleep on sidewalks and live below the poverty line.”
“The current situation has become worse than the previous time. Now the winter has come late, we haven’t evolved to this kind of weather, and our bodies cannot take it normally. If it continues people's sufferings will mount. I urge the government and donor agencies to come forward for underprivileged people,” he added.
Ashanul Islam, a university student said, “I never felt such cold when I was younger. It occurs because of global warming. I saw that coronavirus is staging comeback with a new variant, and I’m afraid another year like 2020 will come, which I never want to imagine.”
Md Mahmud Hasan Khan, lecturer of a government college said, “The severe cold has disrupted the normal life. Medical expenses are increasing rapidly.”
Besides, people in the northern region of the country have been experiencing bone-chilling cold for the last couple of days that disrupted the daily activities. Day labourers, children, and elderly people are worst sufferers.
On January 13 in 2023, the country’s lowest temperature of 9.6 degrees Celsius was recorded at Chuadanga and the lowest temperature of Dhaka was 13.9 degrees Celsius.
