Country reels under cold wave, fog

Flight operations, ferry services disrupted

A foggy overcast sky and dropping mercury kept the regular life of residents in the capital at bay yesterday as a mild cold wave sweeps across the country, causing suffering to people, which is felt most acutely in the north-western districts. However, the situation will start improving from today (Sunday), an official of the Bangladesh Meteorological Department has said. Dense fog, accompanying the cold, covered many areas and flight operations at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and Chattogram’s Shah Amanat International Airport were disrupted early yesterday due to poor visibility.

Similar ordeal was faced by people travelling on road due to disruption of ferry services due to dense fog on Paturia-Daulatdia route and other routes. A sudden drop in temperature due to cold wave, along with dense fog, continued yesterday. Although cold waves are sweeping over the north-western part of the country, the temperature in Dhaka has also dipped rapidly.

The lowest temperature of the day was recorded at 10.1 degrees Celsius in Faridpur, while the highest was 26.6 degrees Celsius in Teknaf, the Met office said.

The minimum temperature forecast for Dhaka was 12.2 degrees Celsius and the maximum temperature was 17.3 degrees Celsius in the capital.

Yesterday, 24 among 43 weather stations across the country reported temperature below the average degree which is quite expected in December, said Kauser Parvin, deputy director, Bangladesh Meteorological Department, in Dhaka.

“Moderate to thick fog may occur at places over the country during midnight to morning,” it said adding that “night and day temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country”.

Flight operations at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport resumed after five and half hours and in Chattogram, flight operations returned to normal in the morning after

three hours. Alamgir Hossain, assistant information officer, Dhaka airport, said flights on both domestic and international routes had remained suspended since 4am. “Five international flights were disrupted. The flight operations resumed around 9am,” he added. Ferry services were also disrupted due to a dense fog and poor navigability. Ferry services on the Daulatdia-Paturia route resumed after five hours due to dense fog.

A number of ferries remained stranded on both sides of the river early yesterday, causing immense suffering to the commuters. Abu Abdullah, assistant manager, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC), at Daulatdia terminal said ferry services were suspended from 3:30am to 9am due to poor visibility. On Friday, massive gridlock was caused on Bangabandhu Bridge approach road after the bridge toll-plaza at Sirajganj end was closed down for several hours due to dense fog.

 

Country reels under cold wave, fog

Flight operations, ferry services disrupted

A foggy overcast sky and dropping mercury kept the regular life of residents in the capital at bay yesterday as a mild cold wave sweeps across the country, causing suffering to people, which is felt most acutely in the north-western districts. However, the situation will start improving from today (Sunday), an official of the Bangladesh Meteorological Department has said. Dense fog, accompanying the cold, covered many areas and flight operations at Dhakas Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and Chattograms Shah Amanat International Airport were disrupted early yesterday due to poor visibility. Similar ordeal was faced by people travelling on road due to disruption of ferry services due to dense fog on Paturia-Daulatdia route and other routes. A sudden drop in temperature due to cold wave, along with dense fog, continued yesterday. Although cold waves are sweeping over the north-western part of the country, the temperature in Dhaka has also dipped rapidly. The lowest temperature of the day was recorded at 10.1 degrees Celsius in Faridpur, while the highest was 26.6 degrees Celsius in Teknaf, the Met office said. The minimum temperature forecast for Dhaka was 12.2 degrees Celsius and the maximum temperature was 17.3 degrees Celsius in the capital. Yesterday, 24 among 43 weather stations across the country reported temperature below the average degree which is quite expected in December, said Kauser Parvin, deputy director, Bangladesh Meteorological Department, in Dhaka. Moderate to thick fog may occur at places over the country during midnight to morning, it said adding that night and day temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country. Flight operations at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport resumed after five and half hours and in Chattogram, flight operations returned to normal in the morning after three hours. Alamgir Hossain, assistant information officer, Dhaka airport, said flights on both domestic and international routes had remained suspended since 4am. Five international flights were disrupted. The flight operations resumed around 9am, he added. Ferry services were also disrupted due to a dense fog and poor navigability. Ferry services on the Daulatdia-Paturia route resumed after five hours due to dense fog. A number of ferries remained stranded on both sides of the river early yesterday, causing immense suffering to the commuters. Abu Abdullah, assistant manager, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC), at Daulatdia terminal said ferry services were suspended from 3:30am to 9am due to poor visibility. On Friday, massive gridlock was caused on Bangabandhu Bridge approach road after the bridge toll-plaza at Sirajganj end was closed down for several hours due to dense fog.