JASHORE, Bangladesh — A moderate cold wave has gripped Jashore, with the lowest temperature falling to 7.8 degrees Celsius on Wednesday as a mild cold wave intensified within two days, weather officials said.
The lowest temperature in the country on Wednesday was recorded in Gopalganj at 7.5 degrees Celsius. Daily life has been disrupted for about a week by the bone-chilling cold, and Jashore has twice posted the country’s lowest temperature in that span.
Sources at the Jashore Air Force weather office said the mercury fell below 10 degrees Celsius in the second week of the Bengali month of Poush, when the mild cold wave began. The temperature in Jashore dropped to 8.8 degrees Celsius, the country’s lowest that day. Earlier, on Friday, Jashore had recorded the country’s lowest temperature at 9 degrees Celsius. Over the past three days, although the mercury rose slightly, the cold has not eased. With no sunshine, fog and northerly winds have intensified the chill.
The local weather office said a moderate cold wave is now in force in Jashore. Wednesday’s low of 7.8 degrees Celsius came as fog and strong winds have prevailed for nearly a week, sending a chill into the bones.
According to the Meteorological Department, a temperature between 8.1 and 10 degrees Celsius is classified as a mild cold wave, 6.1 to 8 degrees Celsius as a moderate cold wave, 4.1 to 6 degrees Celsius as a severe cold wave, and below 4 degrees Celsius as a very severe cold wave.
By that measure, a moderate cold wave is now sweeping over the Jashore region. Daily activity has been disrupted, with people seen walking the streets bundled in heavy jackets and mufflers. Many have not ventured outside in the bone-chilling cold, and those who do are seen in warm clothing all day.
Ruhul Amin, a construction worker from the Khorki area of the city, said: “It is hard to leave home in this cold. But there is no choice. Even when I come out for work, there is no work to be found.”
Shahidul Hossain, a day laborer from the Raypara area, said: “I work as a mason’s helper or laborer. I have come out looking for work and am sitting here. The cold is hard to bear. I have come out to feed my family. I don’t know whether I will get any work.”
Ali Hossain, a rickshaw puller, said: “Very few people are leaving their homes in this cold. So I am not getting passengers. My income has dropped. I am passing the days in great hardship.”
Along with people, animals are also suffering in the bone-chilling cold. Birds and animals have been struggling alongside humans in the severe weather.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report