Abdul Based, Panchagarh Correspondent: The temperature in Tentulia, Panchagarh the northernmost district of Bangladesh—is steadily dropping by 1.5 to 2 degrees Celsius, signaling the gradual onset of winter. On Tuesday morning, fog and cloudy skies covered Tentulia, with only faint sunlight appearing before noon. A cold wind blowing from the north has made daily life difficult, especially for thousands of stone workers along the Mahananda River who are struggling to continue their work for long hours in the chilly weather.

Health officials have expressed concern over the rising number of cold-related illnesses. Dr. Masud Hasan, Resident Medical Officer (In-Charge) at Panchagarh Modern Sadar Hospital, said that as temperatures continue to fall in the region—known as the “Daughter of the Himalayas”—the severity of winter is increasing. This has led to a surge in patients suffering from cold, cough, fever, pneumonia, dysentery, and diarrhea. “Compared to last week, 40 to 50 more patients with such ailments are visiting the hospital daily,” he said. While many are receiving primary treatment and returning home, serious cases are being admitted. The hospital currently has adequate medicine supplies, and Dr. Hasan advised mothers and children to take precautions to avoid catching cold.

According to Jitendranath Roy, Officer-in-Charge of the Tentulia 1st Class Meteorological Observatory, Tuesday’s lowest temperature in the country was recorded in Tentulia at 14.5°C. He noted that the temperature has been decreasing steadily, and the area remains blanketed by fog from evening until morning. “The sun does not appear before 9 a.m., which is intensifying the cold,” he said. Roy also warned that a mild to moderate cold wave may sweep over Panchagarh in the last week of November or early December, further increasing the severity of winter in the coming days.