Sunshine eases winter woes in most parts of country

Following a week of intense cold and thick fog, a stretch of sunny days is anticipated to alleviate winter conditions in most parts of the country, report agencies.

Thursday marked a welcome change with the sun breaking through the fog, and Friday morning continued with clear and bright skies.

Nonetheless, persistent winter cold prevailed in certain northwestern regions, leading to the closure of all educational institutions in Kurigram district due to the ongoing cold spell.

Meteorologist Hafizur Rahman said that the sun was shining across the country, except in Rangpur, which remained engulfed in dense fog with no prospects of rain.

"With the sun's emergence, the harshness of winter is expected to lessen. Although some fog may persist, it will dissipate, making way for clear skies. The heavy fog is likely to subside."

While daytime temperatures might rise, nighttime temperatures are expected to drop, slightly intensifying the winter chill.

Over the past 24 hours, the country's highest temperature was recorded at 27 degrees Celsius in Cox's Bazar, and the lowest at 9.7 degrees Celsius in Tetulia.

In Dhaka, the minimum and maximum temperatures were recorded at 15 degrees Celsius and 23.1 degrees Celcius.

The weather forecast suggests a potential increase of 1 to 2 degrees Celsius in daytime temperatures across the country, while nighttime temperatures may decrease by a similar margin.

Moderate to dense fog is likely to cover parts of the country from midnight to morning, which may cause disruptions in air traffic, waterway and road communications.

In Kurigram a cold wave accompanied by dense fog is sweeping over the district for a few days. So, "We have decided to shut all educational institutions till the situation improves," Mohammad Saidul Arif, deputy commissioner (DC) of Kurigram, said.

Kurigram, a northern district of the country, witnessed 9 degrees Celsius on Thursday and 10.2 degrees Celsius on Friday morning.

Subal Chandra Sarkar, in charge of Rajarhat Meteorological Office in Kurigram, said that the temperature has been fluctuating between 9 and 13 degrees Celsius in the district for the last one week.

The district has not witnessed so much cold in the last 10-12 years.

"Such temperature may continue for two more days," he added.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) said in a circular that education authorities in any district can shut down schools in case the temperature drops below 10 degrees Celsius.