Kurigram is currently under the grip of an intense winter, with temperatures plummeting and fog covering roads and fields from midnight until morning.

The chill is so severe that it has disrupted normal life and left many, especially the poor, desperate for warm clothing.

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On Tuesday morning, the temperature in the district was recorded at a chilling 15.5 degrees Celsius. For the most vulnerable—homeless individuals, day labourers, and low-income families—this cold is more than just uncomfortable; it is a daily struggle for survival.

In Jagmohan Char, a remote river island in Bhogdanga union, residents are bracing against the bitter cold. “It’s very difficult in the cold. I can’t even work on time,” said one local.

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“Since yesterday, it’s been so cold that we can’t go out of the house. At night, it’s also very uncomfortable in bed. We are poor people; even if we could get 1-2 blankets, it would be a great help,” he added.

These words reflect the plight of hundreds across Kurigram, especially in areas bordering the district’s rivers. The region is home to over 300 chars (river islands) and island chars, where low-income communities are suffering without adequate winter protection.

The relentless cold and dense fog have left labourers and daily wage workers in an agonizing position, forcing them to work outdoors with minimal warmth.

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The Kurigram Weather official Subal Chandra Sarkar said the temperature in the region has been fluctuating between 12-16 degrees Celsius over the past 15 days, with the potential for a cold wave to hit the area by mid-December.

In addition to the discomfort, local hospitals are witnessing an uptick in cold-related illnesses, as people struggle to stay healthy amid the freezing temperatures, he added.