The residents of Dhaka woke up on Friday to a city draped in a thick blanket of fog, turning the bustling capital into a misty realm.

The streets, wet from a drizzle-like fog, saw vehicles navigating with their headlights on well into the morning.

By 9:30 am, the sun was yet to pierce through the grey skies, amplifying the wintry chill.

Being a weekend, the usually crowded roads of Dhaka appeared relatively quieter. Yet, those braving the outdoors faced the biting cold and relentless fog. Even layered in multiple warm garments, many struggled against the numbing temperatures.

For the city’s labourers and homeless, the cold proved especially harsh, leaving them reliant on scanty warm clothing and yearning for the faintest hint of sunlight.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) forecast that the current weather conditions are likely to persist.

Read: Dense fog may disrupt flight, vessel operation,  road communication: BMD

A bulletin issued on Thursday night suggested that both day and night temperatures across the country might see a slight rise by Sunday.

However, the dense fog is expected to cause intense cold sensations in certain areas.

The BMD further predicted moderate to dense fog from midnight to midday across the country, which could temporarily disrupt aviation, inland waterway transport, and road travel.

While skies are expected to remain partially cloudy, the weather is expected to stay dry in the coming days. However, light rain or drizzle may occur in the northern regions early next week.

International weather agencies have also noted the severity of this winter.

AccuWeather describes the ongoing cold snap in Bangladesh as part of a broader regional pattern affecting South Asia, with below-average temperatures observed in parts of India and Nepal as well.

The UK Met Office highlights how such dense fog, combined with low temperatures, can exacerbate health risks, especially for vulnerable populations, such as the elderly and those without adequate shelter.

The worsening cold disproportionately impacts Bangladesh’s underprivileged communities.

Read more: Moderate cold wave with fog likely across the country: BMD

Street dwellers and daily wage earners are among the hardest hit, struggling to stay warm in the absence of proper winter clothing. Many are seen huddling around makeshift fires or crowding donation points in search of blankets.

With dense fog continuing to cloak the capital and beyond, the resilience of the nation’s most vulnerable is being tested.

As Dhaka endures another frigid spell, the hope for brighter skies and warmer days remains distant yet persistent.