Prolonged dense fog and biting cold continue to disrupt daily life across northern Bangladesh, with Tetulia upazila of Panchagarh bearing the brunt of the inclement weather. Falling temperatures have intensified suffering among day labourers, transport workers, children and the elderly.
According to the Tetulia Weather Observatory, the minimum temperature was recorded at 10.6°C at 9am on Thursday, with humidity reaching 100 percent. Dense fog blanketed roads, fields and river terminals, sharply reducing visibility and forcing vehicles to use headlights even during daylight hours.
Cold conditions have also intensified in Rajshahi, where the season's lowest temperature of 10.2°C was recorded at 6am on Thursday, according to the Rajshahi Meteorological Office.
A bulletin issued by the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) at 6pm on Thursday reported minimum temperatures ranging from 10.2°C to 14.0°C in 52 districts across the country. All 16 districts of the Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions recorded minimum temperatures between 10.2°C and 12.2°C.
In the capital Dhaka, winter conditions have also strengthened, with the minimum temperature falling to 14°C. The BMD said cold northerly to northwesterly winds may further lower daytime temperatures. By noon, the temperature stood at 17.2°C with 76 percent humidity, while light to moderate fog is expected from evening through early morning.
According to the BMD's 120-hour outlook issued at 9:00am on December 25, temperatures across the country may drop by another 1-2°C in the coming days. Moderate to dense fog is likely during late-night to morning hours, particularly in northern regions and river basins. While weather conditions are expected to remain dry with partly cloudy skies, the cold is likely to intensify further.
On December 24, Tetulia recorded a minimum temperature of 11.6°C at 9am, with 99 percent humidity and wind speeds of 11-12 kmph. The day's maximum temperature rose only to 16.6°C. Although the sun appeared briefly in the afternoon, the cold intensified again after sunset.
Continuous fog and cold weather have disrupted normal routines, leaving many residents unable to leave home for work in the early morning. To cope, people in several areas were seen burning straw and firewood for warmth. Heavy dewdrops falling "like rain" after sunset have further intensified the chill.
Local residents described severe hardship. Kuddus, a day labourer from Tetulia's Talma area, said going out for work has become extremely difficult as the cold numbs his hands and feet. Rahman, a van driver at Tetulia bus stand, reported a sharp decline in passengers and income. Abdullah, a motorcycle rider, said visibility remains poor even with headlights on, forcing him to ride very slowly.
Meteorological records show Tetulia experienced the season's lowest temperature on December 11, when the mercury dropped to 8.9°C-the lowest recorded anywhere in the country this winter. Jitendranath Roy, Officer-in-Charge of the Tetulia Weather Observatory, said a mild cold wave persisted from December 11 to 19. Although temperatures rose briefly afterward, they are falling again, and a moderate cold wave may sweep through the area toward the end of December.
In Rajshahi, dense fog covered the city until after 8:00am, forcing vehicles to use fog lights. Officials reported 100 percent humidity, which has exacerbated the cold, while minimal temperature variation throughout the day heightened discomfort.
Residents reported reduced outdoor activity and declining livelihoods. Sharif Islam, who commutes from Charghat to Binodpur for work, said early-morning labour has become increasingly difficult despite wearing multiple layers. Sagar Ali, a battery-run auto-rickshaw driver, said passenger numbers have dropped sharply, making work both uncomfortable and unprofitable.
In Naogaon, cold conditions worsened as temperatures fell to 12.2°C at 9am on Thursday, compared to 11.9°C the previous day. Dense fog persisted throughout the morning, disrupting transport and daily work. Vegetable vendor Anisur Rahman said early-morning tasks have become extremely difficult, with sales declining as fewer people venture outdoors.
Meteorological officials noted that limited sunshine has made the cold feel more severe, though a slight rise in temperature may occur in the coming days.
Across northern Bangladesh, the prolonged cold spell has hit low-income and working-class communities hardest, forcing many to brave dense fog and freezing temperatures to earn a living. Meanwhile, roadside markets have reported increased demand for warm clothing as winter tightens its grip on the region.
