Bitter Cold Brings Life to a Standstill in Thakurgaon

Life in Thakurgaon, a northern district of Bangladesh nestled close to the Himalayan foothills, has been brought to an uneasy halt as an intense cold wave tightens its grip. The biting chill of the Bengali month of Poush, combined with relentless northerly winds, has left residents shivering through days and nights of unbroken cold. For the past five days, the sun has remained conspicuously absent, hidden behind a thick veil of fog that blankets the region from dawn till dusk.

Even during daytime hours, visibility has been severely reduced, with dense mist casting an almost twilight gloom across roads, fields, and homesteads. On Tuesday (30 December), the sky appeared marginally clearer, but the respite proved illusory. From early morning, a fine drizzle of icy dew fell steadily, further intensifying the cold and dampening any hopes of relief.

Across the district, the frigid northern wind cuts sharply through clothing, stinging exposed skin like needles. At street corners and village crossroads, groups of locals can be seen huddled around makeshift fires fuelled by straw and dried leaves, seeking warmth wherever they can find it. The harsh conditions have hit daily wage earners and manual labourers the hardest, as opportunities for work dwindle and prolonged exposure to the cold becomes unbearable.

Agricultural and farming activities have slowed dramatically, with many fields lying unattended and livestock kept indoors to protect them from the chill. Attendance at offices, courts, and educational institutions has noticeably declined, while roads and marketplaces appear unusually quiet.

The severe cold has also triggered a worrying rise in health complications. According to sources at Thakurgaon District Hospital, cases of cold-related illnesses—including coughs, respiratory distress, pneumonia, and diarrhoea—are steadily increasing. Medical staff are struggling to cope with the growing number of patients, particularly among children and the elderly, who remain the most vulnerable.

The impact is not limited to humans alone. Livestock and poultry are also suffering. Dr Saidur Rahman, Livestock Officer of Sadar Upazila, reported a growing incidence of cold-induced diseases among cattle, ducks, and chickens, causing concern among farmers who rely heavily on these animals for their livelihoods.

Officials from the Department of Agricultural Extension have confirmed that temperatures continue to drop rapidly after sunset, worsening the situation with each passing evening.

Current Cold Wave Snapshot

For the people of this border district, there is now a single, heartfelt wish—to catch even a fleeting glimpse of sunshine. Yet, for the moment, the sun remains captive behind layers of fog and cloud, leaving Thakurgaon locked in the cold’s relentless embrace.