'Cold wave may continue till 14 Jan'

The cold wave sweeping over Bangladesh may continue for the next five days, according to the met office.

"Mild to moderate cold wave likely to continue till 14 Jan," a met office statement said on Tuesday as a "severe cold wave" still swept over northwestern Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions and western Gopalgonj, Jessore and Kushtia and southwestern Satkhira.

According to the statement southwestern Khulna and Barisal, northern Mymensingh, and parts of Dhaka division and regions of Srimangal, Comilla, Chittagong and Noakhali are exposed to experience "mild to moderate cold wave".

Bangladesh on Tuesday witnessed the lowest temperature at 4.8 degrees Celsius at northwestern Dinajpur a day after adjoining Tetulia of Panchagargh district recorded the lowest temperature in the history with mercury level going down to 2.6 degrees Celsius.

The met office said the cold wave will continue in Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions, regions of northern Tangail, northeastern Srimongal and western Chuadanga for one more day until midnight 10 January, exposing the areas to "severe cold wave".

But, a met office spokesman said, it would take the country five more days to get rid of the cold wave in general.

During the period, moderate to thick fog may occur over the northern part and the river basins and light to moderate fog elsewhere over the country through the nights and it may continue for an indefinite period.

"The weather may remain mainly dry with temporary partly cloudy sky over the country during this period," the met office release said.

It said day and night temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country till 10 January, but it may increase by 2-3 degrees Celsius over the country.