Early winter has intensified in Kurigram district, which is already prone to natural disasters like floods and drought. Residents, particularly those in the char areas along the river banks, are experiencing significant hardship due to the sudden onset of cold weather.
The minimum temperature recorded in the district was 12.7∘C at 6 AM on Saturday, according to the Rajarhat Meteorological Observatory. The cold is exacerbated by a chilly wind both day and night. Dense fog covers all directions from midnight until morning, forcing vehicles to use headlights even during the day.
The cloudy sky is preventing the sun's heat from penetrating, leading to persistent discomfort from the bitter cold throughout the day. Local residents report significant difficulties, particularly for daily wage earners. Riazul Islam from Bhangamor village stated he is getting late for work due to the cold, while Ershadul lamented being unable to find work at all, causing his family great hardship.
Farmers, like Naya Mia of Kanthalbari union, are experiencing delays in picking and marketing vegetables due to the cold. Helpless poor and low-income people in the char areas along the district's 16 rivers are the most vulnerable, suffering acutely from the cold wind.
Currently, there are no existing government, private, or non-governmental initiatives in place to provide cold relief. However, Kurigram Deputy Commissioner Annapurna Debnath confirmed that the work of preparing a list of affected people is underway by the upazilas, and blanket distribution among the cold-stricken population will commence soon.
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