Cold wave grips north, threatens livelihoods

A persistent cold wave has gripped northern Bangladesh for several days, intensifying the suffering of poor and marginalised people and threatening their livelihoods.

Panchagarh recorded the country’s lowest temperature at 8.3 degrees Celsius in the 24 hours ending at 9:00am yesterday.

The worst affected are people living in riverine char areas along the Brahmaputra, Teesta, Dharla, Dudhkumar and Gangadhar rivers, where poverty, inadequate shelter and lack of warm clothing have compounded the impact of the cold. Many are burning straw and dry leaves to keep warm.

Farmer Ratin Chandra Das, 65, of Gangadaspur village in Rangpur Sadar upazila, said a biting cold has prevailed for nearly three weeks with no signs of easing. “The cold is gradually becoming more severe. If this continues, survival itself will become difficult.” he asked.

Farmer Abed Ali, 50, from Shimulbari village, warned that prolonged cold conditions would seriously disrupt agricultural production.

According to the Rangpur Meteorological Office, the minimum temperatures recorded at 9:00am yesterday were 10°C in Rangpur, 10.8°C in Kurigram and Lalmonirhat, 8.3°C in Panchagarh, 11°C in Gaibandha, and 10°C in Thakurgaon and Nilphamari.

Rangpur Weather office in-charge and meteorologist Mostafizur Rahman said such weather may persist throughout January. “The sun may appear occasionally, but its intensity will be weak,” he said, adding that the region experiences harsher winters due to its proximity to the Himalayan mountain range.