Severe winter conditions and dense fog have paralyzed public life in Nageshwari upazila, with the sun remaining invisible for seven consecutive days. The relentless icy winds have hit low-income residents and char-area dwellers the hardest, leading to a surge in accidents and cold-related illnesses.
The Upazila Health Complex is overwhelmed with patients suffering from pneumonia, asthma, and diarrhea. Due to the seat crisis, many are receiving treatment on hospital floors. Children and the elderly are the most vulnerable.
Visibility remains so poor that vehicles are forced to use headlights during the day, resulting in multiple road accidents.
Farmers are struggling to maintain Boro seedbeds and protect livestock from the biting cold. Displaced residents in remote areas report a severe shortage of warm clothing and blankets.
According to the Rajarhat Agriculture and Meteorological Observatory, the district recorded a minimum of 11.4°C on Friday morning. Temperatures are expected to drop further, with a cold wave likely to sweep over the region in the first week of January.
Mofakhkharul Islam, Upazila Project Implementation Officer, stated that 2,100 blankets (1,300 purchased and 800 from the DC office) are currently being distributed via UP chairmen. He assured that more allocations are expected as the winter intensifies.
