The country is experiencing bone-chilling cold, icy winds, dense fog, and cold waves disrupting daily life.
However, Kuakata, the southernmost tourist town in Patuakhali, has seen an influx of tourists braving the severe winter.
On January 3, the first Friday of 2025, coinciding with the weekly holiday, Kuakata witnessed a surge of tourists.
Though the sun remained hidden throughout the day, a glimpse of sunlight appeared in the western sky just before dusk. Despite this, the cold's intensity did not subside.
Many visitors have chosen to stay in local hotels. Tourist police remain on high alert to ensure visitors' safety.
Tourist Hafizur Rahman said: "I’m enjoying my visit to Kuakata. The environment is clean and tidy, with many tourists around. I came here to stay for two days, but the cold is quite severe.”
He added: “I brought my kids along; they wanted to swim in the beach water, but it was too cold, so I didn’t let them. Nevertheless, everyone is busy having fun, laughing, and running around."
Hotel Khan Palace’s Managing Director, Md. Russel Khan, said: "Kuakata is seeing a good crowd of tourists, though hotels are not fully booked.”
He also said: “Most hotels are about 50-60% booked, with a few top-tier hotels fully booked. We believe the number of tourists will increase if the cold eases a bit."
Tourist Police Kuakata Region Inspector Sakhawat Hossain Topu said: "Despite the intense cold, the tourist police are working to ensure maximum safety for visitors. Several teams are stationed at all popular tourist spots in Kuakata."