People of the northern region of Bangladesh, especially Dinajpur, have started experiencing a drop in the mercury, as winter has announced its imminent approach.
Fog descends at the end of day, showing the start of winter. People need to wear warm clothes to go out at night.
As winter has started to make its mark in the northern district, pitha-puli sellers are having a busy time in the different upazilas of the district.
They have set up shops along various busy roads and intersections to sell winter favourite pithas.
There has been a flurry of selling pithas at the intersections of various roads and public gatherings in the upazilas.
Temperature in different upazilas of Dinajpur is decreasing day by day.
As the evening approaches, people start to feel cold. As the night deepens, the fog and cold increase. The intensity of winter increases from midnight.
The pitha-puli sellers are having a busy time with the arrival of winter. They are passing a busy time in building shops at different markets and road intersections.
Besides, stove making work is going on. Bhapa and Chitai pitha are being sold since evening in several places.
During a recent visit, it was found that Bhapa and Chitai pithas are being prepared in shops at Bus Stand, Azadmor and Old Market in Ghoraghat municipal area. People of different ages are waiting to eat pithas.
Along with winter pithas, duck and chicken eggs are being sold in the shops.
Bhapa pithas are being sold depending on the size from Tk5-20. Chitai pithas are being sold at the price of Tk5-25.
Apart from this, the building of pitha shops and stove has been completed in several places in Kalitola, Osmanpur, Raniganj and Dugdugihat markets. These shops will also start selling pithas within two days.
Rickshaw driver Motaleb Mia told Bangla Tribune: "I have been driving a rickshaw in the Ghoraghat municipal area at night for the last ten years. For ten days, I take a shawl with me while leaving home in the evening. The entire area gets covered in fog by 1am. Nothing can be seen in the thick fog on the empty streets. If it's cold, I wrap myself in the shawl.”
Minhajul Islam, who came to buy pitha, said: “Fog has been descending in our area for 5-6 days. Many people have already set up pitha shops at the roadside market. Many people like me are coming here to eat pitha.”
A young man named Arif Islam opened a pitha shop in the Ghoraghat bus stand area.
He said: "I think I opened the first winter pitha shop in this upazila. People are flocking to eat the first pitha of the season. Many are buying pithas for home. Sales go up after evening.”
Asaduzzaman, in-charge of Dinajpur Met office, said that the temperature started to fall under influence of low pressure and rainfall. The temperature will gradually fall from now.
The lowest temperature of Dinajpur district was recorded at 19.6°C on Friday.