Bitter cold is disrupting daily life in Dinajpur, with the mercury in the northern district dropping as low as 8.4°C on Monday morning.
The daily wage earners, who could not go out in search of work because of a lack of warm clothing, are the worst sufferers. Their income has decreased.
Vehicles of the district are moving with headlights on, even in the mornings, to avoid accidents due to dense fog.
In many places people are seen burning straw to ward off the biting cold, reports Bangla Tribune.
Sirajul Islam, a rickshaw van driver of Dinajpur sadar upazila said: “I came out in the morning in search of work, but I cannot even hold the handle due to the shivering cold. I cannot press the pedal either as my feet are freezing. Due to the reduced movement of people in this extreme cold, our income is decreasing.”
Meanwhile, farmers are concerned as seedbeds are at risk of being damaged.
Rahim Uddin, a farmer of Nayanpur area said Boro seedlings are not growing. Only 50%-60% of seedlings have germinated. The remaining seeds died. “Not only Boro seeds, but potatoes and tomatoes have also been affected by leaf spot disease. This disease is caused by fog,” he said.
According to the local meteorological department, the lowest temperature recorded in the district on Monday was 8.4°C.
Earlier, the lowest temperature was 9.5°C on Sunday and 9.4°C on Saturday.
Md Asaduzzaman, Dinajpur meteorological department in-charge said the district may experience two more cold waves this month including rain.