No relief from cold as rain predicted in first week of Jan

Bangladeshis can now hope some relief from the biting cold as the Bangladesh Meteorological Department predicted temperature rise across the country from Tuesday.

The Met office, however, also forecast drizzle at the beginning of the new year in most parts of the country, especially in the south-western regions.

"The sun is available due to decreased fog and cloud, which have resulted in a rise in the mercury," said Abdur Rahman, meteorologist at the meteorological department.

Temperature may fall slightly at night he said adding that it may rain on several days in the first week of January.

A cold wave is sweeping over parts of the country for 11 days among the last 12 days.

The ongoing cold wave has spread across the south-western districts of the country after it swept over the northern regions. A mild cold wave may sweep Tangail, Moulvibazar, Kushtia, Rajshahi, Rangpur and Mymensingh on Monday, according to the met office.
The mercury dipped the lowest in the year on Sunday as the lowest temperature 4.5 degree Celsius recorded in Tentulia, Panchagarh. The lowest ever temperature 2.6 degrees Celsius was recorded in Tentulia last year on 8 January.

The winter is taking its toll on the people of Panchagarh with the poor suffering the most. As Panchagarh is close to the Himalayas, the northern cold wind causes the temperature to fall fast at the northernmost point of the country, according to meteorologists.

Despite the cold wave, the sun appeared around 7:30am at Panchagarh on Suanday allowing people to bask.