The Human Cost of Rajshahi’s 7°C Cold Wave

RAJSHAHI : While the record-breaking 7°C temperature in Rajshahi is a headline for meteorologists, for the district’s thousands of day laborers and low-income earners, it is a matter of survival.

As the mercury plummeted to its lowest level this year on Tuesday morning, the icy winds blowing across the Padma River have left the city’s working class in a state of stagnant desperation.

For those who rely on daily wages, the cold is more than an inconvenience—it is a barrier to earning a living. In the early hours of Tuesday, usually busy labor hubs were nearly deserted. Those who did venture out were seen huddled around small fires made of scrap wood and dry leaves.

“The wind is like needles,” said one rickshaw puller in the city. “I cannot hold the handles of my rickshaw for more than ten minutes. But if I don’t work, my family doesn’t eat.”

The situation is mirrored in rural areas, where agricultural laborers are finding it difficult to work in the damp, freezing fields. With humidity at 100 percent, the moisture in the air makes the 7°C temperature feel significantly colder, leading to widespread reports of respiratory issues and cold-related illnesses among the poor.

The lack of sunlight has added to the misery. With the sun failing to appear until late in the morning, there has been no respite from the biting chill. The stagnancy of daily life is visible in the closed shops and empty streets, as those who can afford to stay home remain indoors.

Local NGOs and community leaders are calling for urgent distribution of warm clothing and blankets, as the most vulnerable members of society face what is expected to be a prolonged and dangerous cold wave in northern Bangladesh.