A spell of biting cold has tightened its grip on Rajshahi. The city recorded a minimum temperature of 7°C at around 6am on Tuesday.
Although dense fog was not present, the intensity of the cold increased severalfold due to icy winds.
From early morning, daily life came to a standstill as cold air swept across the region.
According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, Rajshahi recorded a minimum temperature of 10°C and a maximum of 19.5°C on Monday.
The difference between the day and night temperatures was 8.5°C. Alongside the reduced temperature gap, a sudden drop in nighttime temperatures has intensified the cold. Although sunrise was expected around 6:45am, the sun did not appear until around 9am.
The cold has brought stagnation to daily life in both urban and rural areas. Meteorological data showed morning humidity at 100%, worsening public suffering as piercing cold winds spread an intense chill across the body.
In the morning, working people were seen standing around fires lit at tea stalls across various intersections in the city to keep warm. Day labourers and low-income earners have been the worst affected by the cold wave.
Rickshaw puller Firoz Ali said: “The cold in the morning and afternoon makes my hands and feet numb. But if I do not go out to work, the household cannot run. The cold is so severe that it is becoming difficult just to stay on the roads.”
Cold conditions have slowed daily life, with the same situation prevailing from the city to rural areas. According to the weather office, morning humidity stood at 100%, causing severe cold sensations due to icy winds.
Rajshahi Meteorological Office acting officer Rahidul Islam said the temperature in Rajshahi dropped by 3°C within a day, falling to 7°C—the lowest in the country and the lowest of the season for Rajshahi.
He added that the temperature may persist for several more days, and with humidity at 100%, the perceived temperature feels even lower.