STAFF CORRESPONDENT

The cold wave sweeping over northern Bangladesh has intensified significantly, disrupting the lives of poor and disadvantaged communities and hampering business activities.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department said a mild to moderate cold wave is currently occurring in 10 districts -- Rajshahi, where the lowest temperature was recorded yesterday; Pabna, Bogura, Dinajpur, Nilphamari, Panchagarh, Rangamati, Jashore, Chuadanga and Kushtia -- and may persist over the next five days.

The chilling weather and dense fog have brought these districts to almost a standstill, reports our district correspondents.

According to Met officials, the temperature may fluctuate over the next three to four days and is likely to rise from the 10th or 11th of this month.

In Rajshahi, the temperature fell from 10 degrees Celsius on Monday to 7 degrees Celsius yesterday, marking the lowest temperature of the season so far, according to the Rajshahi Meteorological Office.

While the elderly and children remain the worst affected, the cold has also created severe hardship for low-income people, particularly outdoor workers.

Abul Bahar, a rickshaw puller from Rajshahi city’s Bhadra area, said his work has become extremely challenging. “While it’s already difficult with my hands and feet going numb, the number of passengers is also low and so there is almost no income.”

Amzad Hossain, a day labourer from the Talaimari area, said, “We aren’t getting enough work because of the cold. It has become difficult to run the family during this winter. It is even worse when the sun does not come out.”

Meanwhile, in Dinajpur, the temperature was recorded at 9 degrees Celsius, in Saidpur 10 degrees Rangpur 11.9 degrees, and Kurigram’s Rajarhat 10.5 degrees, said observatory official Jitendranath.

Rahena Begum, 60, of Sahapara village in Panchagarh’s Boda upazila, said, “The severity of the cold has become difficult to bear, especially from evening till the next morning. I can’t stay warm even if I have two or three blankets on me.”

Anikul Chandra Barman, 55, of Moidandighi village in the same upazila, said it has become challenging to do necessary work in the crop fields, especially with strong cold gusts.

The Rangpur region has been experiencing the cold spell since December 23, with the minimum temperature fluctuating between 8.6 and 11.9 degrees Celsius, while district and upazila hospitals are filling up with child patients affected by cold-related illnesses.

Visiting the paediatric department at Rangpur Medical College Hospital, our correspondent saw a severe shortage of beds.

Some beds had multiple children sharing them, and most of the patients were between one and five years old.

Sabina Begum, a resident of the Tajhat area in Rangpur city, said, “My one-year-old child has been suffering from breathing Dr He

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