Cold wave grips parts of Bangladesh

The cold spell is likely to persist for a few more days, according to the Met Office

A cold wave is sweeping over large swathes of Bangladesh as winter tightens its grip.

In its forecast issued on Thursday, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) said the chilly conditions are likely to persist for several more days, though daytime temperatures may edge up slightly.

The cold wave is currently affecting 17 districts, including parts of the Dhaka Division as well as several northern regions. Meteorologists have warned that dense to light fog may form in many areas, potentially disrupting air travel, inland water transport and road traffic.

Daytime temperatures could increase by one to two degrees Celsius from current levels, the forecast said.

Districts under the cold wave include Madaripur and Gopalganj, while northern areas such as Rajshahi, Pabna, Sirajganj, Dinajpur and Panchagarh are also affected.

Other districts experiencing mild cold conditions include Sylhet, Moulvibazar, Cumilla, Khulna, Satkhira, Jashore, Chuadanga, Kushtia, Barishal and Bhola.

Weather conditions are expected to remain generally dry across the country, with skies partly cloudy at times.

Over the past 24 hours, the lowest temperature in the country was recorded in Jashore at 7.8 degrees Celsius, while the highest temperature was recorded in Teknaf at 27 degrees Celsius.

In Dhaka, the mercury dipped to 13.1 degrees Celsius.