A cold wave has gripped Chuadanga, a southwestern border district of Bangladesh, disrupting daily life as temperatures dropped significantly at the start of the new year.
The district recorded a minimum temperature of 9.8°C at 9am on Thursday, according to Rakibul Hasan, senior observer at Chuadanga Meteorological Office.
While Chuadanga experienced slightly higher temperatures over the past two weeks, the onset of harsher winter conditions since Thursday has caused significant disruptions. The livelihoods of daily wage earners have been particularly affected.
Manik, a labourer searching for work at the Barabazar intersection in Chuadanga town, shared his struggles.
“It has been very cold since last evening,” he said. “I went out early in the morning to look for work, but the chill makes it hard to function.”
Mizanur Rahman, another worker, said: “If I skip work for a day, there will be no food on the table. I’m forced to come out in this severe cold.”
Locals said that roads remained largely empty in the morning due to cold winds and dense fog. Children and the elderly are particularly vulnerable to cold-related illnesses.
Rakibul Hasan said the district is experiencing a second phase of a mild cold wave, which is expected to persist for the next two days. Cloud cover is anticipated from January 4-6, which may contribute to a slight rise in temperature.
Chuadanga previously recorded a temperature of 8.7°C on December 14, 2023.
With air humidity at 87%, it marked the lowest temperature of the season both in the district and the entire country.