United News of Bangladesh

A cold wave has again gripped Chuadanga at the end of Bengali month Magh, leaving residents struggling to cope with the sharp drop in temperature. According to the Chuadanga Weather Observatory Centre, the local Met office recorded the country’s lowest temperature of the season—9.6°C—at 9 am on Saturday. "A mild cold wave is sweeping the district which could persist for two to three days. While temperatures may rise slightly tomorrow there remains a possibility of further drops," said a Met office official. Severe cold grips Kurigram; low-income people hit hard Although the intensity of the winter had somewhat eased in recent days, the last two days have seen a resurgence of biting cold, disrupting daily life, said locals . The chilly wind has made it difficult for people to endure the cold conditions and the situation is particularly harsh for the homeless and day labourers. Mild cold wave sweeping over parts of country: BMD Day labourers who have to venture out in search of work are also finding it difficult to manage in the cold. Liakat Ali, a rickshaw-van puller in Chuadanga district town,  said, "The cold eased a bit recently, but over the past two days, the chill has intensified. My hands and feet are shivering. While the sun offers some relief during the day, the cold becomes unbearable by the afternoon."  

The northern district of Kurigram has been experiencing several cold, causing immense suffering of people, especially low-income ones. Those living on chars and riverbanks are the worst sufferers as 16 rivers flow across the district. People were trying to keep themselves warm by igniting fire. Local met office recorded 12 degree Celsius temperature at 7 am on Wednesday, a fall of 3 degrees from Tuesday. Horse cart driver Sirajul Islam, a resident from Jatrapur union of Sadar upazila, said they have been experiencing severe cold for the past few days that’s hampering daily life. Read: Kurigram battles intense winter, poor desperate for warm clothing Farmer Saiful Islam from the Dharola union of the upazila said though they prepared the seedbeds for Boro, it was difficult to deal with cold water coupled with wind. Subal Chandra Sarkar, in-charge of agricultural weather office in Kurigram, said the temperature was fluctuating from 12 to 15 degree Celsius for the past two weeks. The district may experience cold waves after the middle of the month, he said, adding that the sun would not shine today.

All secondary-level schools in the northern district of Rajshahi have been declared closed for two days, starting from today (January 21, 2024), due to severe cold. All primary-level schools are also closed today, according to an official notification signed by Dr Sharmin Ferdous Chowdhury, deputy director (acting) of secondary and higher secondary education in Rajshahi zone. Local meteorological department yesterday predicted that the district would experience less than 10 degrees Celsius temperature for the next two days (January 21 and 22). Following the forecast, education officers of the district held a meeting yesterday and took the decision to keep the primary and secondary schools closed. Read more: UGC forcibly imposed GST system on us: JnU Teachers Association Saidul Islam, primary education officer of the district, told UNB’s Rajshahi correspondent that academic activity at the primary schools will remain closed only for Sunday but the offices will remain open as usual. “Observing Sunday’s weather, the next course of action will be decided,” he said. The district witnessed a fall of four degree Celsius temperature within a span of two days. The local Met Office yesterday recorded 9.8 degrees Celsius temperature against 13.8 degree Celsius a day before. Dense fog blankets the whole district while wind has been blowing. As a result, a severe cold is being felt. Rajib Khan, observer at Rajshahi Meteorological Observatory, said the minimum temperature in Rajshahi dropped to 9.6 degrees Celsius on January 13. The second lowest temperature of the season was recorded at 9.8 degrees Celsius at 7:30 am yesterday. Read more: Educational institutions shut in Kurigram due to cold wave On Friday, the minimum temperature was recorded at 13.8 degrees Celsius, he said. The temperature also decreased yesterday after dense fog had descended, he said, forecasting that such weather may persist throughout January. On January 16, Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) issued a circular saying that the education authorities in any district can close down schools in case the temperature drops below 10 degrees Celsius. According to the circular, “A cold wave is sweeping different parts of the country and as a result the educational activities are being seriously hampered. The regional deputy directors in consultation with the district education officers can keep the educational institutions under secondary level closed if the temperature drops below 10 degrees Celsius in any district.” Read more: Mild cold wave sweeps 3 northern districts: Met Office