Panchagarh experienced the country’s lowest temperature on Friday morning, with the mercury dropping to 8.4 degrees Celsius.
At 6 am, the temperature stood at nine degrees Celsius and fell further to 8.4 degrees by 9 am. Cold air from the Himalayas caused the temperature drop, according to Jitendranath Roy, officer-in-charge of the Tetulia Meteorological Office.
The cold weather has severely impacted the district’s vulnerable communities. Many daily wage earners, agricultural workers, and labourers have been unable to work due to the chill. Lacking sufficient warm clothing, they are struggling to survive.
Delwar Hossain, a battery-run autorickshaw driver, said, “Dense fog and wind make it impossible to drive in the morning. Few passengers travel during this time, and my income has dropped.”
Similarly, day labourer Lutfar Mia said, “Winter reduces work opportunities, and I am struggling to provide for my family.”
Tea worker Aleya Khatun shared her struggles, saying, “In the morning, the dense fog wets the tea plants, making it difficult to pluck leaves. My hands and feet go numb from the cold.”
District Agricultural Extension Officer Md Abdul Matin said, despite the cold, the weather benefits agriculture, particularly the cultivation of potatoes, wheat and corn.
However, the cold has also increased patient numbers, particularly among children and the elderly. Panchagarh Civil Surgeon Dr Md Mostafizur Rahman said hospitals face greater pressure on outpatient and inpatient departments as winter-related illnesses rise.
Panchagarh Deputy Commissioner Md Sabet Ali reported distributing 2,000 blankets through the upazila nirbahi officers of the district’s five upazilas. He added that the administration has requested additional allocations from higher authorities.
