Biting cold, thick fog paralyse daily life in Kurigram

KURIGRAM, Dec 04 (bdnews24.com): Kurigram has been gripped by dense fog and a biting cold for four consecutive days, disrupting public life across the northern district.

Chilly winds and a heavy blanket of fog have shrouded the area since early Thursday.

Vehicles have been forced to move with headlights on as visibility has dropped sharply.

The fall in temperature has caused severe hardship for people in low-income groups, including day labourers, rickshaw pullers and van operators who depend on daily earnings to survive.

The district recorded a temperature of 12.4 degrees Celsius at 6am on Thursday, said Subal Chandra Sarkar, chief of the Rajarhat Meteorological Observatory.

Despite the cold, people ventured out at dawn in search of work.

"We can't go out because of the fog and cold. What can I do? I need to work to eat, so I have come outside," said 60-year-old day labourer Aziz Mia of Jatrapur Union.

Dulal Mia, a 55-year-old rickshaw puller from Kurigram Sadar Upazila, said the cold has kept people indoors, affecting their income.

"We can't go out because of the cold. But there are no passengers."

Aminul Islam, another rickshaw puller, said he had not earned a single paisa so far.