Cold Wave Persists, Disrupting Life Across Northern Districts

Mild cold wave grips northern Bangladesh, disrupting life as authorities distribute warm clothes to vulnerable riverbank residents.

A mild cold wave continued to grip the northern region for the third consecutive day on December 25, disrupting normal life despite little change in minimum temperatures and a slight rise in maximum temperatures.

The sky remained partly cloudy and misty until noon, with cold winds blowing from the west and northwest. The situation remained especially harsh for poor communities living along riverbanks and in char areas of the Brahmaputra basin, where suffering has worsened over the past few days.

Low temperatures forced many residents to stay indoors, while business activities and daily routines were partially disrupted. Normal life resumed somewhat in the afternoon when the sun briefly appeared after cutting through dense fog.

According to the Rangpur Meteorological Office, minimum temperatures remained largely unchanged with a slight increase in some areas, while maximum temperatures rose compared to the previous day. However, the overall intensity of the cold wave remained almost the same.

The lowest temperature recorded at 6am was 11.2 degrees Celsius in Rangpur city, compared to 12.2 degrees the previous day, while the maximum rose to 20 degrees Celsius from 17.5 degrees. Elsewhere in the region, minimum temperatures ranged between 10.5 and 11.8 degrees Celsius, while maximum temperatures varied from 17 to nearly 23 degrees Celsius.

Health officials reported a rise in patients suffering from coughs, fever, asthma and other cold-related illnesses over the past few days. Authorities said government hospitals and upazila health complexes have adequate medicine stocks and are prepared to provide treatment to those affected.

To ease the suffering of cold-hit people, district administrations, along with various organisations and institutions, have begun distributing warm clothes across the region. Officials said thousands of blankets and significant funds have been allocated to purchase and distribute winter clothing in Rangpur, Kurigram and other northern districts.

More allocations of blankets and financial assistance are expected soon for all cold-affected districts. Reports from remote riverine areas indicate that daily life for vulnerable communities in Rangpur, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Gaibandha, Nilphamari and nearby districts continues to be severely disrupted by the ongoing cold wave.