Photo: BSS

KURIGRAM, Dec 26, 2025 (BSS) - Life in Kurigram, a northern district of the country, has been brought to a near standstill by a severe cold snap.

Temperatures have plummeted to 11.4 degrees Celsius with 99 percent humidity, making the already harsh winter conditions unbearable, particularly for the impoverished residents of the char (riverine island) areas. 

Dense fog and biting winds have kept people indoors, severely impacting the livelihoods of daily wage labourers, boatmen, agricultural workers and van drivers. With work grinding to a halt, countless families face acute uncertainty, struggling to secure food and basic necessities.

In char areas of Chilmari, Roumari, Rajibpur, Ulipur and Kurigram Sadar, children and the elderly are disproportionately affected by the lack of adequate warm clothing. Many are resorting to torn garments, sacks, or polythene sheets to brave the frigid nights.

Kobad Ali, a daily wage earner, from Borber Char in Kodalkati Union, separated by the Brahmaputra River in Char Rajibpur Upazila, expressed his despair. "When I go out to work in the morning, my hands and feet get stiff. There is no work, no income but my family cannot go hungry," he said.

Shah Alam, a boatman at Jatrapur Brahmaputra Ghat, echoed similar concerns: "The fog on the river is so thick that it is risky to sail. There has been no income for two days."

Locals criticise the insufficient distribution of winter clothes to the char areas, noting that government and private aid falls far short of the urgent need. Rahim Uddin Haider Ripon, Panel Chairman of Jatrapur Union Parishad, highlighted the stark contrast: "While the winter is bearable in the city, the situation in the char areas is terrible. People here live hand-to-mouth; stopping work means going hungry."

The Rajarhat Agricultural Meteorological Office in Kurigram warns of a further drop in temperature and the risk of a cold wave in the coming days, increasing the threat of cold-related illnesses. 

Dr Rakibul Hasan Badhan, a physician in Kurigram, advised caution: "The risk of pneumonia, colds and respiratory problems for children and the elderly has increased significantly this winter. Using warm clothes and being careful is essential."

Public representatives from Kurigram's union parishads are urgently calling for increased humanitarian aid and the swift distribution of warm clothing to all affected areas, especially the char regions. They emphasised that without immediate and effective measures, the situation could become dire.

Shafiqul Islam Bebu, president of the Kurigram District Char Development Committee, highlighted the scale of the crisis: "Out of the 5.5 lakh people in the char areas, a total of 11,989 people in the district, including the disabled, are now in a state of poverty. The government and the wealthy must come forward on an urgent basis."

Meanwhile, the district administration reports that the distribution of 22,000 blankets, purchased at a cost of Taka 54 lakh, is underway across nine upazilas.

However, for the hardworking residents of Kurigram's char areas, this winter is not just a battle against the cold, but a daily struggle for survival. Each night presents a new challenge and every morning brings renewed uncertainty.