Rajshahi Records Season’s Lowest Temperature

Rajshahi experienced the coldest weather of the current winter season today, with the mercury dipping to 7°C, as a mild to moderate cold wave continues to sweep across 10 districts of the country.

Earlier, the season's lowest temperature had been 7.5°C in Gopalganj on December 31, a record that was surpassed today in the northern region. The cold wave is affecting Rajshahi, Pabna, Bogura, Dinajpur, Nilphamari, Panchagarh, Rangamati, Jashore, Kushtia, and Chuadanga.

Meanwhile, Teknaf in the southern coastal belt recorded the country’s highest temperature at 26.6°C, highlighting a notable north-south temperature gap. Despite the drop in northern temperatures, Dhaka saw a slight rise in the mercury today.

Officials at the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) said temperatures may fluctuate over the next few days, with a warming trend expected around January 10–11. According to meteorological classifications, a mild cold wave occurs when temperatures fall between 8.1°C and 10°C, while a moderate cold wave ranges from 6.1°C to 8°C. Severe cold waves are marked by temperatures between 4.1°C and 6°C, and readings below 4°C indicate very severe cold wave conditions.

In its long-range forecast, the BMD predicted at least five cold waves for January, including one severe wave. The latest bulletin, effective from 9 am today, indicates mostly dry weather with partly cloudy skies at times. Moderate to dense fog may form from midnight to late morning, potentially affecting air, river, and road transport.

While day and night temperatures may rise slightly in the coming days, lingering fog could maintain the sensation of cold in many areas. In Dhaka, today’s sunset was at 5:26 pm, and tomorrow’s sunrise is expected at 6:43 am.