Severe cold paralyses daily life in Pabna

Severe cold and dense fog, with no sunlight, have been disrupting lives and livelihoods in Pabna and adjoining areas.

Ishwardi upazila recorded 8.4 degrees Celsius yesterday morning, the country's lowest temperature of the day. The temperature may continue to fall over the next four to five days, according to the Met Office.

Low-income people, including day labourers, have been suffering the most, as they have to venture out in the cold weather to earn a living.

"There is hardly any passenger, but I still have to come out. Today, I have had only one trip to Chatmohar upazila so far," said Md Shahid, a CNG-run auto-rickshaw driver on the Pabna-Ishwardi road.

Md Jalal Uddin, an elderly rickshaw-puller, shared a similar ordeal.

In the Ishwardi rail station area, most trains were seen moving slowly with fog lights turned on throughout the day amid dense fog and poor visibility.

"Because of slow movement amid dense fog, most trains are running at least 20-30 minutes late," said Hasina Akter, Pakshey divisional transportation officer of the railway. "Train lines are often affected by cold weather, so the trains are moving carefully, causing the delay," she added.

Day labourers and marginal people were found trying to get relief from the cold by burning wood and paper on roadsides throughout the day.

Agricultural activities have also been severely disrupted due to the biting cold.

While people light small fires along roadsides to keep themselves warm amid severe cold in Pabna’s Ishwardi yesterday morning. PHOTO: STAR

Md Kamruzzaman, a farmer in Pabna's Sujanagar upazila, said, "This is the time for onion cultivation, but we are having a hard time working in the fields in such cold weather."

If the cold weather continues until next week, it will result in major losses for onion farmers, he added.