Cold Wave Grips Bangladesh as Temperatures Plunge to 6.8°C

A moderate cold wave is sweeping through Bangladesh’s northernmost district, with temperatures in Tetulia dropping to 6.8°C on Friday morning. Icy Himalayan winds and 100% humidity have brought life to a standstill, marking the lowest temperature recorded in the country this season.

Life at a Standstill Thick fog has blanketed highways, reducing visibility to a few feet from late night until mid-morning. Drivers are forced to use headlights well after dawn, while agricultural work has largely stopped. For the district’s low-income residents and daily wage earners, the extreme weather is a matter of survival. • Laborers: Many report hands and feet going numb but say they must work to feed their families. • Transport: Van and rickshaw drivers are seeing fewer passengers as residents stay indoors. • Survival: In rural areas like Boda Upazila, residents are burning straw and wood for warmth, reporting that blankets are no longer enough to ward off the chill.

Health Crisis Looming Local hospitals are reporting a surge in admissions. At the Boda Health Complex, Resident Medical Officer Md. Abul Kalam Azad noted that the facility is "flooded" with patients suffering from cold-related respiratory illnesses, with children and the elderly being the most vulnerable.

Forecast Jitendra Nath Roy, head of the Tetulia Meteorological Observatory, warned that the biting cold is expected to persist for several days. Winds from the north, traveling at 10 to 12 kph, continue to drive the "bone-chilling" conditions across the region.