A continuous cold wave for five days has severely disrupted daily life in Taraganj upazila of Rangpur. Freezing temperatures, dense fog, and the absence of sunlight have made normal activities nearly impossible. The harsh weather has hit low-income workers the hardest, including day laborers, rickshaw pullers, and van drivers, many of whom are unable to work due to the cold.

Thick fog from dawn until noon has reduced visibility, making road travel risky and delaying workers, students, and traders. The biting cold has forced many to stay home, while those who venture out struggle without adequate warm clothing. As a result, daily earnings have dropped, deepening financial worries for poor families.

With the cold intensifying, crowds have increased at local markets where people are seeking warm clothes. However, rising prices have prevented many from buying enough garments. Some residents are lighting fires along roadsides at night to stay warm, while health concerns are growing among children and the elderly.

A severe winter storm has blanketed the northeastern United States in snow, disrupting transportation and prompting emergency measures. As of Saturday evening local time, about 29 million people across Minneapolis, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Vermont were under winter weather alerts. According to the National Weather Service, Connecticut’s New Haven County saw more than 10 inches of snow between Friday and Saturday, while Fairfield County recorded over 9 inches. New York’s Phoenicia reported the highest snowfall at 13 inches.

Central Park in New York City recorded 4.3 inches of snow, the highest since January 2022. New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency in more than half of the state’s counties as snow and ice made roads hazardous for travel. Flight tracking website FlightAware reported over 8,700 flight delays and more than 1,400 cancellations across the United States by Saturday night.

Authorities warned that icy conditions could continue to disrupt travel and essential services as cleanup efforts proceed across affected regions.

A 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck off the northeastern coast of Taiwan late Saturday night, according to the island’s weather administration. The quake hit at 11:05 p.m. local time near Yilan County, with its epicenter located 73 kilometers beneath the seabed. Buildings in the capital Taipei shook, prompting residents to rush outdoors in fear. No major damage or casualties were immediately reported.

Taipei city authorities said there were no significant losses, though minor incidents such as gas and water pipe leaks and slight structural damage occurred in some buildings. Taiwan Power Company reported temporary power outages affecting tens of thousands of homes in Yilan. Chipmaker TSMC briefly evacuated some staff from its Hsinchu Science Park facilities before resuming normal operations.

The weather administration warned of possible aftershocks measuring between 5.5 and 6.0 within the next 24 hours. President Lai Ching-te stated that the situation was under control and urged citizens to remain alert for aftershocks.

Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has removed a total of 148 tons of waste from the 300 Feet area in the capital, where the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) held a reception on May 25 to mark the return of its acting chairman, Tarique Rahman. DNCC Administrator Mohammad Ejaz ordered the cleanup on Thursday night, and a special cleaning drive began Friday morning with 350 sanitation workers participating. The collected waste was transported in 148 trips by 20 trucks and safely dumped at the Aminbazar landfill. By noon, the entire venue was cleared and reopened for public movement.

During the operation, some local BNP activists voluntarily joined DNCC workers from 10 a.m. to assist in the cleaning effort. Administrator Ejaz expressed gratitude to all participants, emphasizing that joint efforts by city authorities, citizens, and political activists after large gatherings can make the city cleaner and more livable.

The cleanup followed a massive public gathering celebrating Tarique Rahman’s return after 17 years, prompting DNCC’s immediate action to maintain environmental hygiene.

Ferry services on the important Daulatdia–Paturia route, connecting Rajbari’s Daulatdia and Manikganj’s Paturia, were suspended again from 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 27, due to dense fog. The suspension was announced by the terminal authorities after visibility on the river dropped sharply, making navigation unsafe. Earlier, ferry movement on the same route had been halted for about 15 hours from Friday evening until Saturday morning before resuming for around 12 hours.

According to the terminal authorities, the fog intensified after evening, obscuring the river’s marking lights and creating serious safety risks. As a result, the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) temporarily stopped all ferry and vessel operations to prevent possible accidents. The suspension led to long queues of passenger buses, trucks, and private cars at both terminals, causing hardship for drivers and passengers in the cold night.

Officials said ferry operations will resume once the fog density decreases and conditions are reviewed for safe navigation.

A mobile court in Baliakandi upazila of Rajbari district fined three individuals Tk 200,000 on December 27 for illegally cutting and selling soil to brick kilns. The operation took place in the Amtala area of Baliakandi Sadar Union, led by Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Ehsanul Haque Shipon. The fined individuals were identified as Touhid Biswas, son of Moslem Biswas; Hasan Molla, son of Shukur Molla; and Rashed Sheikh, son of Sadek Sheikh. Police personnel from Baliakandi Police Station were present during the operation.

According to the Upazila Assistant Commissioner, the offenders violated Section 7(a) of the Balumahal and Soil Management Act 2010 and were penalized under Section 15(1) of the same law. He stated that similar drives would continue against anyone involved in illegal soil or sand extraction within the upazila.

The enforcement action underscores the local administration’s ongoing efforts to curb unauthorized soil extraction and protect land resources in the Rajbari region.

A severe winter storm named Devin caused major travel disruptions across the United States on Friday, leading to the cancellation of 1,802 flights and delays to more than 22,000 others, according to Reuters. The storm struck during the Christmas holiday season, heavily affecting the northeastern region. The worst disruptions occurred at John F. Kennedy International, Newark Liberty, and LaGuardia airports, where more than half of all cancellations and delays were reported. JetBlue canceled 225 flights, Delta 212, Republic Airways 157, American Airlines 146, and United Airlines 97.

Airline representatives said ticket change fees were waived for affected passengers. JetBlue reported canceling about 350 flights over two days, mostly in the northeastern United States. The storm also impacted Boston, Chicago, and Toronto in Canada. Authorities declared states of emergency in parts of New Jersey and New York as the National Weather Service forecast four to five inches of snow from New Jersey through southern Connecticut.

By Friday evening, snowfall reached seven inches in New York’s Pawling and Wolcott and 6.5 inches in Waterbury, Connecticut, with snow, rain, and ice expected to continue into early Saturday.

A powerful winter storm has disrupted daily life across the northeastern United States, prompting emergency declarations in parts of New York and New Jersey. The U.S. weather service forecasted between four and five inches of snow from New Jersey through New York City to southern Connecticut. As of Friday evening, heavy snow, rain, and ice were affecting the region and were expected to continue until early Saturday.

According to the weather department, by 8:15 p.m. Friday, seven inches of snow had been recorded in Pawling, New York, 6.5 inches in Waterbury, Connecticut, and seven inches in Wolcott, New York. New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency in more than half of the state, covering 36 counties, including all five boroughs of New York City.

Forecasts indicated that snow would persist through Saturday morning, with the Mid-Hudson, New York City, and Long Island areas expected to see the heaviest accumulation. Snowfall could reach 4 to 8 inches in many areas, with some places seeing up to a foot, raising concerns about power outages and accidents.

A mild cold wave is sweeping across several districts of Bangladesh, including Jessore, Chuadanga, Gopalganj, Rajshahi, Pabna, Sirajganj, and Nilphamari, and is expected to continue until Saturday. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department reported that temperatures have fallen significantly over the past five days, with Dhaka recording around 13 degrees Celsius on Friday. In at least two districts, temperatures dropped below 10 degrees Celsius, marking the lowest of the season.

According to the weather office, the cold conditions are being influenced by a subcontinental high-pressure zone. The forecast for the next 120 hours warns of moderate to dense fog in parts of the country, which may temporarily disrupt air, river, and road transport. The lowest temperature was recorded at about 9 degrees Celsius in Tetulia, Panchagarh, while similar conditions were observed in Jessore.

The cold has severely affected daily life, particularly in northern Bangladesh, where low-income and floating populations are suffering the most. The intensity of cold and fog is expected to increase further in the coming days.

All types of vessel movement on the Dhaka-Chandpur-Barishal route have been suspended due to dense fog. The decision was confirmed late Friday night, December 26, by Babu Lal Baidya, Deputy Director (Naval Traffic) of BIWTA Chandpur. He stated that the sudden increase in fog density over the rivers made navigation unsafe, prompting authorities to halt all passenger vessel operations across southern Bangladesh, including routes to Bhola and Barishal.

According to the official, launches currently on the river have been instructed to anchor at their present locations until visibility improves. The suspension will remain in effect until the fog clears, after which normal vessel operations will resume. The measure aims to prevent accidents and ensure passenger safety amid poor visibility conditions.

The temporary halt affects key southern waterways linking Dhaka with Chandpur and Barishal, disrupting regular passenger transport and cargo movement until weather conditions stabilize.

Ferry services on the crucial Daulatdia–Paturia river route between Rajbari and Manikganj were suspended again on Friday evening due to dense fog. The suspension took effect from around 7:15 p.m., as authorities at the ferry terminals halted all operations citing safety concerns. Visibility on the river dropped sharply after sunset, making navigation lights unclear and increasing the risk of accidents.

The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) Daulatdia office confirmed that the decision was taken to prevent possible river accidents. Assistant General Manager (Commercial) Mohammad Salauddin said fog began forming before sunset and intensified rapidly, reducing visibility to a dangerous level. As a result, all ferries and other vessels were temporarily stopped for safety.

The suspension left passengers and drivers of buses, trucks, and private cars stranded in the cold night, with long queues forming at both ferry terminals. Authorities said ferry operations would resume once fog density decreases and conditions improve.

A severe cold wave has gripped Bhurungamari in Kurigram, where residents have endured four consecutive sunless days. The temperature dropped to 11.4°C on Friday morning, December 26, according to the Rajarhat Agricultural Meteorological Office. Dense fog has blanketed the area from evening until noon, forcing vehicles to use headlights during the day. The biting cold has particularly affected children, the elderly, and low-income workers, many of whom are struggling to continue their daily activities.

Local residents have been lighting fires to stay warm, while demand for second-hand clothing has surged. Auto-rickshaw drivers reported reduced income due to poor visibility and fewer passengers. Relief efforts are underway, but supplies remain insufficient. The Upazila Project Implementation Officer said Tk 600,000 was allocated by the Ministry of Disaster Management, with 1,300 blankets distributed across ten unions and 600 more received from the district.

Officials warned that temperatures could fall further until December 31, with the cold wave expected to persist, heightening hardship for vulnerable communities in the region.

Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has removed a total of 148 tons of waste from the 300 Feet area in the capital, where a reception was held for BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman’s homecoming. The cleanup operation began on Friday morning following instructions from DNCC Administrator Mohammad Ejaz, who had directed officials the previous night to ensure swift waste removal.

A special cleaning drive was conducted with the participation of 350 DNCC sanitation workers. Using 20 trucks, the collected waste was transported in 148 trips to the Aminbazar landfill for safe disposal. By noon, the entire venue was cleared and made accessible for public movement. Some local BNP leaders and activists voluntarily joined DNCC workers in the cleanup effort from 10 a.m.

Administrator Mohammad Ejaz thanked all participants, emphasizing that collective involvement of citizens and political activists after large gatherings can make the city cleaner and more livable, while easing the delivery of civic services.

Chuadanga district is experiencing an intensifying cold wave, with temperatures falling below 10 degrees Celsius. On Friday morning, the Chuadanga First-Class Weather Observatory recorded 9.7°C at 6 a.m. and 9.6°C at 9 a.m., with humidity at 95 percent. The temperature dropped nearly 2 degrees in just one day compared to Thursday’s 11.4°C. The cold, driven by northern winds, has severely affected daily life across the border district.

Local residents reported worsening hardship as the cold persists. Pedestrians and rickshaw pullers said people are avoiding going out in the mornings, leaving day laborers without work and transport workers without passengers. Children and the elderly are most at risk from the cold, while many rural residents are resorting to lighting fires due to a lack of warm clothing.

Weather observers forecast further temperature decline, and local residents have urged authorities to provide urgent assistance and distribute winter clothing to those in need.

Ferry operations on the Daulatdia–Paturia route, a key waterway connecting Rajbari’s Daulatdia and Manikganj’s Paturia, resumed on Friday morning after being suspended for nine and a half hours due to dense fog. According to the report, services were restored around 9:30 a.m. on December 26, 2025, once visibility improved on the Padma River.

The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) temporarily halted all ferry and vessel movement from midnight on Saturday when thick fog severely reduced visibility across the river basin. BIWTC’s Daulatdia office assistant general manager (commerce) Mohammad Salauddin stated that operations were restarted after the fog cleared and navigation conditions became normal.

The prolonged suspension caused significant traffic congestion at both ferry terminals, leaving trucks, buses, and private cars stranded. With the resumption of ferry movement, the backlog began to ease, bringing relief to drivers, assistants, and passengers waiting at the terminals.