Bangladesh hit by coldest temperatures ever

Severe cold wave engulfed Bangladesh this week with record-breaking low temperatures, the coldest the country has seen since record-keeping started in 1948. At least 12 people, including 6 children, died of cold-related ailments in just 4 days.

Temperatures in parts of Bangladesh dropped to 2.6 °C (36.7 °F) on Monday, January 8, 2018, well below average for the country used to mild winters.

"It is the lowest temperature since authorities started keeping records in 1948," Shamsuddin Ahmed, head of the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), told AFP. The previous record low of 2.8 °C (37 °F) was recorded in 1968, he added.

The worst affected were country's northern regions, where at least 12 people died of cold-related ailments, including 6 children in just 4 days in Rajshahi, Kurigram and Thakurgaon districts. However, unusually low temperatures also affected its southern regions.

Capital Dhaka recorded 9.5 °C (49.1 °F) on Monday, the lowest temperature this season, BMD said. The city's lowest temperature ever was 5.6 °C (42 °F) recorded in 1964.

On the same day, Saidpur upazila recorded 2.9 °C (37.2 °F), 3 °C (37.4 °F) were measured in Dimla upazila of Nilphamari district, 3.1 °C (37.5 °F) in Rajarhat upazila of Kurigram, 3.2 °C (37.7 °F) in Dinajpur, 4 °C (39.2 °F) in Badalgachhi upazila of Naogaon district, 4.9 °C (40.8 °F) in Rangpur, 5.3 °C (41.5 °F) in Rajshahi, 5.4 °C (41.7 °F) in Chuadanga, 5.5° C (41.9 °F) in Ishwardi upazila of Pabna, and 5.6 °C (42 °F) in Jessore, the Dhaka Tribune reports.

The cold wave is expected to continue over parts of the country on January 10, BMD said.

Severe cold wave is sweeping over Jessore and Kushtia regions today, the department said. Mild to moderate cold wave is sweeping over Rajshahi, Rangpur, Barisal, Mymensingh divisions, remaining part of Khulna division and the regions of  Faridpur, Madaripur, Tangail, Srimangal, Sitakunda, Comilla and Feni. Current cold wave condition is likely to continue as mild to moderate cold wave at places over the country, the department said.

At least 79 people were reported dead in neighboring India and Nepal over the past few days as this intense cold-wave descended upon the region.

Meanwhile, two rounds of very heavy snowfall hit China's eastern and central regions since January 2, 2018, with freezing rain in Guizhou, Hunan and Jiangxi. 21 people were killed and 2.3 million affected, as of January 8, 2018.

Featured image: Temperatures in Bangladesh on January 7, 2018. Credit: Earth.Nullschool.net