United News of Bangladesh

A mild to moderate cold wave sweeping across large parts of Bangladesh has begun to affect daily life, agriculture and health, particularly in the northern districts, as temperatures dip and dense fog blankets vast areas of the country. According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), a cold wave is currently prevailing over Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions, as well as the districts of Gopalgonj, Moulvibazar, Cumilla, Feni, Khulna, Jashore, Chuadanga and Kushtia. The situation is likely to persist in the coming days. In its latest bulletin issued on Thursday morning, the Met office said moderate to thick fog may occur over river basins, while light to moderate fog is expected elsewhere during the late night to morning hours. Ongoing cold wave likely to continue till Jan 11 Despite the cold conditions, the weather is forecast to remain dry, with a temporarily partly cloudy sky across the country. Night temperatures are expected to remain nearly unchanged, while day temperatures may rise slightly. The country’s lowest temperature on Thursday was recorded at Srimangal in Sylhet at 7.0 degrees Celsius. Dhaka registered a comparatively milder 12.5 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, meteorologists are also monitoring a deep depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal. The system, which intensified from a depression at 6 am on Thursday, is moving west-northwestwards and is likely to cross the Sri Lanka coast. Its associated trough extends up to the North Bay, while a ridge of the sub-continental high pressure system stretches across West Bengal and the adjoining western parts of Bangladesh. Severe Cold in Lalmonirhat From Lalmonirhat, UNB’s correspondent reports that a severe cold wave has gripped the district, accompanied by dense fog and chilling winds, significantly disrupting normal life. The Rajarhat Meteorological Observatory recorded the district’s lowest temperature at 10.3 degrees Celsius at 9 am on Thursday. Subal Chandra Sarkar, acting officer of the Kurigram Rajarhat Meteorological Office, warned that temperatures may fall further in the coming days. Severe cold wave paralyses Chuadanga Heavy fog covering roads and open fields during the early morning hours has slowed traffic, particularly on highways and regional roads. The impact has been especially harsh on daily wage earners, rickshaw pullers and agricultural labourers, many of whom are unable to work, pushing already vulnerable families into financial hardship. Children and elderly people remain the most at risk as cold-related illnesses rise. Local health facilities, including Upazila Health Complexes, have reported an increased number of patients seeking treatment for cold-induced ailments. The cold spell has also posed challenges for farmers. To protect Boro paddy nurseries and winter vegetable fields, cultivators are taking additional precautions. However, the prolonged lack of sunlight caused by dense fog has raised concerns over the potential spread of crop diseases. Read more: Cold and fog bite into Narail’s honey season Residents have urged the authorities to ensure adequate distribution of winter clothing among the poor and vulnerable, warning that the suffering of low-income families could intensify if the cold wave continues.

Ferry services on the Shariatpur-Chandpur Harinaghat river route have been suspended since 11:30pm on Saturday (January 03, 2026) due to dense fog, disrupting transport on both sides of the river. Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) Narsinghpur ferry terminal Assistant Manager Md Iqbal Hossain said ferry operations were suspended  at around 11:30pm on Saturday as thick fog engulfed the river basin, gradually reducing visibility. Read more: As haor waters recede, Sunnamganj farmers sow hope in every field At one stage, he said,  navigation marker lights along the waterway became unclear, prompting authorities to suspend all ferry and vessel movement to prevent accidents midstream. As a result, passenger buses, goods-laden trucks and other vehicles were stranded at ferry terminals in both Shariatpur and Chandpur. Hossain said no ferry had to anchor mid-river during the suspension. “Ferry services will resume once the fog density decreases and visibility improves,” he added. Read more: Dhaka’s air quality remains ‘unhealthy’ amid fog

Eight  international flights could not land at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Saturday morning due to dense fog, airport sources said. The flights were diverted to Chattogram, Kolkata and Bangkok as visibility dropped sharply over the capital,  Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) officials said. They said flight operations will resume as normal once weather condition improves. US. Airlines cancel 1,000 flights amid FAA-ordered service reductions Airlines concerned are providing meals and hotel facilities to passengers of delayed flights as required, it added. Severe cold weather has gripped Dhaka and other parts of the country, disrupting normal life. Dense fog and cold winds have added to the hardship especially during the morning hours. The Met office forecast dry weather with partly cloudy sky across the country. It also said moderate to dense fog may occur in different areas from midnight to morning and in some places, may continue until noon.

Ferry services on the Paturia-Daulatdia and Aricha-Kazirhat water routes were suspended due to dense fog, leaving more than 300 vehicles stranded at terminals. Five ferries were anchored mid-river as visibility dropped sharply. Abdus Salam, Deputy General Manager of BIWTC Aricha Sector, said the fog began intensifying from Thursday evening and became extremely dense around 9:00pm, covering the entire waterway and making vessels invisible. To prevent accidents, ferry operations on the Aricha-Kazirhat route were suspended. At the time, two ferries — Bir Shrestha Hamidur Rahman and Chitra — were stranded mid-river carrying passengers and vehicles, while two other ferries remained at Kazirhat ghat. Meanwhile, ferry services on the Paturia-Daulatdia route were suspended around 12:30am as fog density increased further. Three ferries — Shahparan, Golam Maula and Baigar — were anchored mid-river following the suspension. Due to the halt in ferry operations, more than 300 vehicles, including over a hundred goods-laden trucks, were stranded at Paturia and Daulatdia ghats, causing severe hardship for passengers and transport workers. The official said ferry services would resume once visibility improves and fog conditions ease.

Ferry services on the Shariatpur-Chandpur waterway have been temporarily suspended due to dense fog. To prevent accidents, the Narsingpur Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) terminal authorities halted ferry operations from 4 am on Tuesday, said the terminal’s Deputy Manager Md Iqbal Hossain. Dense fog halts ferry services on 2 routes for two hours From midnight Monday, intense fog had blanketed the river and surrounding areas, prompting the decision to suspend ferry movement from 4 am to ensure safety, said Iqbal. No ferries, however, were stranded mid-river. Ferry operations will resume once visibility improves, he added. Brahmaputra ferry crisis deepens as navigability issues persist in Kurigram

Ferry services on Aricha-Kazirhat and Paturia-Daulatdia river routes in Manikganj resumed on Saturday after several hours of suspension due to dense fog. Deputy General Manager of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC), Aricha regional office, Nasir Chowdhury, said the ferry services on the Aricha-Kazirhat route remained suspended till 10:30 pm on Friday due to poor visibility caused by the dense fog. Five ferries got stuck in the middle of the river due to the suspension of the ferry movement. Fog-hit ferry services resume on Aricha-Kazirhat, Paturia-Daulatpur routes after 9hrs Besides, the ferry services on the Paturia-Daulatdia route were suspended due to thick fog around 3:30 am early Saturday, forcing the authorities to halt movements of 14 ferries on both sides of the river. Some 500 vehicles, including 400 goods-laden trucks, remained stranded on both sides of the two ferry routes, causing immense sufferings to passengers. As the fog disappeared, the ferry services on the two routes restored around 7 am and 6 am, respectively. Dense fog halts ferry services in Padma, Jamuna rivers  

Ferry services on Aricha-Kazirhat and Paturia-Daulatdia river routes in Manikganj resumed on Friday morning after nine hours of suspension due to dense fog. Nasir Chowdhury, deputy general manager of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) in Aricha sector, said the ferry services resumed at 10:30am after the fog cleared. Earlier, he said the fog intensified in the Padma and Jamuna rivers’ basins starting from midnight, forcing them to suspend the ferry services at 1:30am. The suspension caused four ferries stuck in the middle of the both rivers and over 500 vehicles at the terminals. During this time, four ferries—Borkot, Kopoti, and Khan Jahan Ali, and Chitra got stuck in the middle of the rivers. Read: Fog fades in Meghna River, ferry services resume Moreover, six ferries remained stuck at the Paturia terminal, four at the Daulatdia, and three at the Aricha, all carrying passengers and vehicles, according to terminal authorities. Currently, over 500 vehicles were stuck at the four ferry terminals, with over 400 freight trucks, they said. Nasir said they allowed passenger buses, private cars, microbuses, ambulances to cross the river on the priority basis after the fogs lifted.

Air navigation, inland river transport and road communication may face disruption due to dense fog in the next five days from 9am on Sunday. Parts of the country may experience moderate to dense fog from midnight to morning  during the period, according to a regular bulletin of Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD). Light rain or drizzle likely in northern region of Bangladesh in 5 days: BMD Weather may remain dry with temporary partly cloudy sky over the country. Meanwhile, night and day temperatures may rise slightly over the country during the period. Biting cold and chilling winds disrupt daily life in Naogaon Ridge of sub-continental high extends up to West Bengal and adjoining area. A seasonal low lies over South Bay, extending it's tough to Northeast Bay. The country’s lowest temperature was recorded at 09.7 degree Celsius.

Ferry services on the Paturia-Daulatdia and Aricha-Kazirhat routes resumed this morning after a lengthy suspension caused by dense fog that disrupted operations for 10-11 hours. Nasir Chowdhury, Deputy General Manager of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC), confirmed that operations resumed at 10:30 am on the Paturia-Daulatdia route and at 11:00 am on the Aricha-Kazirhat route. Passenger buses, private cars, and microbuses will be prioritized for crossing, followed by goods-laden trucks, Chowdhury added. The disruption began on Saturday night when thick fog blanketed the waterways, obscuring visibility and forcing authorities to suspend ferry services to prevent accidents. Three ferries—Khan Jahan Ali, Birshreshtha Jahangir, and Baigar—were stranded mid-river, while more than 300 vehicles, predominantly cargo trucks, were left waiting at the Paturia, Daulatdia, Aricha, and Kazirhat terminals. Read: Ferry services on Aricha-Kazirhat & Paturia-Daulatdia routes resume after disruption The situation deteriorated after sunset, with the fog becoming denser along the Aricha-Kazirhat route. By 11:30 pm, visibility had dropped to near zero, rendering navigation lights ineffective and making the waterway perilous. Among the stranded ferries, the Khan Jahan Ali Ro-Ro ferry was stuck mid-river with passengers and vehicles onboard. Three other ferries—Chitra, Krishani, and Shah Ali—were immobilized at the Aricha terminal, while the Dhanshiri ferry was stuck at the Kazirhat terminal. By 1:00 am, authorities suspended ferry operations on the Paturia-Daulatdia route as well. Two ferries, Birshreshtha Jahangir and Baigar, were left stranded mid-river, adding to the growing backlog of eight ferries halted at the terminals. The resumption of services brought relief to hundreds of stranded passengers and vehicle operators, as the BIWTC worked to clear the backlog and ensure smooth crossings for priority vehicles. Read more: Ferry services resume on Aricha, Paturia routes after 3 hours  

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.