A biting cold wave has tightened its grip on Naogaon, plunging the district into an icy spell as temperatures dropped to a bone-chilling 6.7°C, the lowest recorded in the country this season.
The sudden dip, recorded at 8:00am on Wednesday at the Badalgachhi Agricultural Meteorological Observation Centre, has brought life in the northern district to a near standstill.
With humidity touching 100 per cent, dense fog and piercing winds have become a daily ordeal for residents.
Just a day earlier, the temperature stood at 11°C, meaning the mercury fell by 4.3°C within 24 hours — a sharp decline that signals the onset of a prolonged cold wave, according to weather officials.
As the sun sets, the cold intensifies. Streets disappear under thick fog through the night, easing only slightly after sunrise.
Even then, the brief warmth offers little relief from the frosty conditions that continue to disrupt daily routines.
“During the day the sunlight makes it somewhat bearable, but once evening comes, we have to bundle up,” said Ahsan Habib, a resident of Doktar’s Mor.
At night, he said, sleeping without two or three layers of blankets is impossible.
For those who earn their living outdoors, the cold has hit especially hard.
Abdus Salam, a van driver from Barunkandi, said the evening chill and dense fog have made transport difficult.
“Fog lasts until sunrise. It becomes nearly impossible to carry passengers safely at night,” he said.
Hospitals are already feeling the pressure. Dr Abu Jar Gaffar, Resident Medical Officer at the 250-bed Naogaon Hospital, said hundreds of patients, including children, adults and the elderly, are seeking treatment for cold-related illnesses.
“We are treating patients suffering from pneumonia, diarrhoea, asthma, respiratory complications and TB,” he said, adding that around 200 patients are currently admitted and receiving continuous care.
Confirming the temperature drop, Mizanur Rahman, Officer-in-Charge of the Badalgachhi Weather Station, said the 6.7°C reading marks the beginning of a cold wave in the region.
“Temperatures may fall further in the coming week,” he warned.
In response to the worsening situation, the district administration has stepped up relief efforts.
Warm clothing is being distributed among the poor and daily wage earners to help them cope with the extreme cold.
Naogaon District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer Md Ashekur Rahman said Tk six lakh has been allocated for each upazila, amounting to a total of Tk 66 lakh for all 11 upazilas, to ensure timely assistance.
In addition, 30,600 blankets have been supplied from the Prime Minister’s relief fund, the Ministry of Disaster Management, and the district council, with distribution currently underway.
As Naogaon braces for colder days ahead, residents hope the relief reaches the most vulnerable before the mercury dips any further.