DHAKA, Dec 29 (V7N) — Dense fog has severely disrupted transportation across Bangladesh, forcing the suspension of passenger launch services and causing delays to international flights, while a cold wave continues to intensify, deepening public hardship nationwide.
 
Passenger launch services from Dhaka’s Sadarghat terminal to Chandpur and other southern destinations were suspended from Sunday evening due to poor visibility. The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) issued a special directive halting launch operations, which was also enforced at other river ports across the country. The sudden suspension left hundreds of passengers stranded at Sadarghat, adding to their suffering.
 
The dense fog also affected operations at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. Due to sharply reduced visibility, several international flights failed to land on schedule between midnight Saturday and early Sunday morning. Airport sources said at least six international flights were scheduled to land between 1:00 am and 6:00 am, but unclear runway visibility forced aircraft to circle Dhaka airspace before landing with significant delays. Some flights departed for Dhaka later than scheduled after receiving advance warnings of foggy conditions.
 
River transport on the Aricha–Kazirhat route remained suspended for nearly 11 hours due to heavy fog before ferry services resumed at around 8:45 am on Sunday. BIWTC Assistant Manager (Aricha) Abu Abdullah said ferry movement was halted from 9:00 pm Saturday to avoid accidents, as dense fog engulfed the Padma River.
 
Dhaka River Port Joint Director (Marine Safety and Traffic) Muhammad Mobarak Hossain said visibility dropped sharply after dusk, making it difficult to see even short distances on the Buriganga River, while conditions were more severe on larger rivers. He said operating launches under such conditions posed serious risks and services would remain suspended until visibility improves. Authorities have adopted stricter safety measures following a recent collision between two launches on the Meghna River in Chandpur last Thursday night, which claimed four lives.
 
Meanwhile, the cold wave gripping the country has intensified. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department reported that the lowest temperature on Sunday was recorded in Nikli, Kishoreganj, at 8.8 degrees Celsius. Temperatures in Sirajganj’s Tarash, Kurigram’s Rajarhat, Nilphamari’s Dimla, Sreemangal, Cumilla, Jashore, and several other central and northern districts hovered between 10 and 12 degrees Celsius. Dhaka recorded a minimum temperature of 14.3 degrees Celsius.
 
Senior observer Akhtaruzzaman Faruk of the Nikli weather office said temperatures have been falling steadily over the past several days. He noted that the reduced gap between maximum and minimum temperatures has made the cold feel more intense, and further drops are possible in the coming days.
 
The Meteorological Department warned that the current cold wave may persist for several more days, with dense fog likely from early morning until late morning. It also cautioned that January could bring harsher cold conditions.
 
END/MD/SMA/