Winter has set in across northern Bangladesh, with Dinajpur experiencing a significant drop in temperature. The minimum temperature fell to 13.5°C on Monday morning, intensifying the cold and bringing hardship to low-income residents.
The Hili area has been particularly affected, with heavy fog persisting from dawn to late morning.
Locals said that the sun remains obscured until 9am, and fog returns by the afternoon, amplifying the chill.
Afzal Hossain, a shopkeeper, noted that winter tends to arrive earlier in northern Bangladesh compared to other regions.
"But this year, it feels colder and foggier than last year," he said. “When I went out to open my shop in the morning, my hands and feet were wet from the heavy fog. The winter that has just begun seems like it will be harsher.”
Van driver Elias Hossain described the difficulties of working in the cold.
"The fog is so dense in the morning that visibility is reduced to just five feet," he said. "Driving in these conditions is challenging, and the cold makes my hands and feet numb. Many people are already suffering from fever, colds, and coughs."
Tofazzal Hossain, an official with the Meteorological Department in Dinajpur, confirmed the drop in temperature.
"This morning, the minimum temperature in Dinajpur was 13.5°C, compared to 16.8°C yesterday," he said. "The air humidity was recorded at 94%, with an average wind speed of two kilometres per hour."
