Bangladesh records lowest temperature in five decades

Bangladesh on Monday recorded the lowest temperature in five decades as mercury dipped to a chilling 2.6 degrees Celsius.

The severe cold wave sweeping through the country since January 4 brought normal life and businesses to almost standstill, particularly in the northern region facing the Himalayan mountains, bdnews24.com reported.

A thick blanket of fog accompanied by icy winds left people shivering in the early hours on Monday.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) said the previous lowest temperature was 2.8 degrees Celsius in 1968. According to reports, the cold spell has so far claimed 12 lives in three northern Bangladesh districts.

"Mercury plunged to its lowest 2.6 degrees Celsius in the northern most sub-district, Tentulia," Ayesha Khatun, a senior meteorologist, told Xinhua news agency. "This time the temperature dropped abnormally."

BMD recorded Dhaka's temperature at 9.5 degrees Celsius on Monday, which was also the lowest in many years in the capital city of about 15 million people.

Sky over the capital and most parts of the country remained cloudy from last couple of days while cars and buses were ran by switching on headlights in day time on many Dhaka streets.

Sunlight was completely absent in the northern districts due to dense fog. The freezing weather is likely continue for three more days.

--IANS

soni/mr