Winter has firmly gripped Fulbari, a northern district of Kurigram near the Himalayas, bringing an early chill this year. On Saturday (November 16), the first day of the Bengali month of Agrahayan, thick fog and cold weather added to the hardships of low-income residents in both the town and surrounding rural areas.
From dawn until 11:30 a.m., the area remained engulfed in heavy mist, creating a cold and foggy atmosphere. Although the sun appeared after midday, it failed to ease the chill. While the days are somewhat warm, the nights bring heavy dew that feels almost like rainfall.
The past two days of biting cold have disrupted daily life, particularly for children and the elderly. Dense fog has forced vehicles to use headlights during the day, and laborers, despite the cold, are compelled to work for their livelihoods.
“It’s very cold today, much colder than the past few days, but I still had to go to work,” said Abul Kasem, a day laborer from Kurushaperusha. Nazrul Islam, another laborer from Purbo Fulmati, shared similar concerns.
The agricultural weather office in Rajarhat upazila of Kurigram reported a minimum temperature of 18.4°C in Fulbari on Saturday morning. Acting weather officer Subal Chandra Sarkar warned, “The cold will intensify in the coming days, and by the end of the month, it will become even more severe.”