Staff Correspondent, Dhaka
The district of Panchagarh is experiencing a significant drop in temperature, with the season's lowest recorded at 11.4°C on Friday, down from 12.2°C on Thursday and 13.3°C on Wednesday.
Russel Shah, acting officer at the Panchagarh Meteorological Department said: “Bangla Poush and Magh months are particularly cold here, with temperatures falling significantly. As days pass, it’s expected to drop further,” Shah said.
Although mornings are sunny with little fog, the chill is evident.
Despite the cold, low-income people continue their daily tasks, while tourists flock to the district to enjoy the winter and the majestic view of Kangchenjunga.
Life in the chill
In rural households, women are busy processing freshly harvested crops, and farmers brave the frost to gather vegetables like red spinach, bottle gourd, cauliflower, and coriander.
Many describe the dew-drenched fields as feeling like ice, leaving their hands numb.
It feels like Poush has already arrived, said locals Hanif Ali, Saher Ali, and Mohir Uddin.
Rise in cold-related diseases
The cold has led to a surge in illnesses like fever, cough, asthma, pneumonia, and diarrhea.
Panchagarh Modern Sadar Hospital and other health facilities are overwhelmed, treating 300–400 outpatients daily, with over 100 children and elderly patients admitted for severe conditions.
An early and long winter
Panchagarh, located at the foothills of the Himalayas, experiences an early onset and prolonged winter. With the Bangla month Hemanta transitioning to Poush, residents are already relying on heavy blankets and warm clothes to endure the icy nights.
As winter deepens, the district braces for even harsher conditions.
