A relentless cold wave has tightened its grip across Bangladesh, with temperatures plummeting to the season's lows and leaving low-income groups in extreme distress.
Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) officials have warned that the current shivering conditions, coupled with mild to moderate cold waves, are likely to persist for several more days, with the possibility of multiple spells of cold waves later this month.
According to its Thursday bulletin, a mild to moderate cold wave was sweeping over 24 districts in the Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions, as well as Khulna and Moulvibazar.
The lowest temperature in the country was recorded in Sreemangal at 7.0°C.
The capital Dhaka recorded a minimum of 12.9°C on the day.
The Met office forecast said temperatures were expected to drop further from Saturday (tomorrow), which would likely intensify the public's suffering.
While a clear low-pressure system in the Southeast Bay of Bengal slightly reduced fog density, it simultaneously increased wind speeds, making the "chill factor" feel far more severe.
This shift in weather hit the country's low-income groups and working class people the hardest.
Day labourers and rickshaw pullers reported a significant decline in daily earnings in the capital and elsewhere in the country, including the northern region, as people stayed indoors to avoid the biting wind.
"The cold is unbearable, and because of the wind, I cannot stay out on the streets for long. If I do not work, I do not eat. But at the same time, I do not have enough warm clothes to face this weather," said Sumon, a rickshaw puller in the capital's Mirbagh area.
In districts like Jashore and Nilphamari, where temperatures hovered around 10°C, day labourers and rickshaw pullers
reported a major fall in their daily earnings as people stayed indoors.
For the homeless and those living in slums, the lack of warm clothing is now a matter of survival.
But many of them are unable to afford even basic blankets or sweaters due to their dwindling income.
While both government and private organisations have initiated winter clothing distribution drives, the scale of the crisis appears to be outstripping the resources available.
In Rajshahi, where the suffering of the destitute is particularly acute, officials admit to a gap in supply and demand, media reports say.
With the Met office predicting more cold waves this month, the challenge is expected to escalate.
Stakeholders are calling for a more coordinated effort from the private sector and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to supplement government relief and ensure that the most vulnerable populations, particularly children and the elderly, are protected from the worsening winter.
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