Bone-chilling cold and thick fog have engulfed the country as the temperature has hit a 50-year low.
At least 12 people, including six children, died of cold-related diseases in Rajshahi, Kurigram and Thakurgaon districts in last four days.
A meteorologist of Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), Abdur Rahman said, "BMD on Monday recorded the country's lowest temperature at 2.6 degree Celsius at Tetulia in the northern division Rangpur for the first time since its inception."
The capital city also experienced the lowest 9.5 degree Celsius temperature, he said.
The previous lowest temperature recorded in Dhaka was 5.7 degree Celsius in 1964.
The previous lowest temperature of the country recorded by BMD was 2.8 degree Celsius in 1968, Rahman said.
"The severe cold wave is likely to continue till January 10. The chilling condition may improve after that, however, the temperature may fall or rise within this period," he added.
According to BSS, the severe cold wave sweeping through northern regions and some other parts of the country paralysed normal life of the people.
BSS said the shivering cold and fog hit the people hard, especially in the north, forcing them to stay indoors.
The season's first cold spell brought the normal life and businesses to almost standstill as people are facing hard time to deal with the shivering cold.
