Mongla, Jan 07 (V7N) - An intense bout of winter cold has settled over Mongla during the month of Poush, leaving the coastal town and its surrounding areas shrouded in thick fog for several consecutive days. The impact has been particularly severe along the coast adjacent to the Bay of Bengal and the Sundarbans, where visibility has dropped sharply, disrupting both road and river transport.

Dense fog has blanketed roads, forcing vehicles to operate with headlights on even during daytime. Rivers in the area have been almost completely obscured, making navigation extremely hazardous. Despite the risks, hundreds of working people are crossing rivers by ferry under dangerous conditions to continue their daily livelihoods.

Port operations at Mongla have also been affected. The loading, unloading, and transportation of goods from foreign commercial vessels anchored at the port have slowed significantly due to poor visibility. To avoid accidents, large vessels have temporarily suspended movement, further hampering trade activities.

The harsh cold has hit daily wage earners the hardest. Vehicle drivers are struggling to cope with the biting cold while continuing to work, and boatmen are navigating waterways amid shivering conditions and near-zero visibility.

Driver Mohsin Mridha and Zakaria Hawladar said visibility on the roads has been extremely poor due to fog, making driving difficult even with headlights on. They added that although the cold is unbearable, staying home is not an option as they depend on daily work to survive.

Ferry driver Sohrab Hossain said navigating rivers in heavy fog is extremely risky, as visibility is almost nonexistent and the channel sees heavy vessel traffic, increasing the likelihood of accidents.

Cargo vessel crew member Md Anwar Hossain said his ship remains anchored at Harbaria Port area after loading goods, as dense fog has made it unsafe to proceed toward Nawapara. He added that the journey would resume only once visibility improves.

Mongla Weather Office In-Charge Md Harun-or-Rashid said the current cold and foggy conditions are expected to persist for several more days. He warned that there are indications the intensity of the cold may increase further during this period.

The ongoing weather conditions continue to pose serious challenges to transportation, port operations, and the livelihoods of thousands of workers in the Mongla coastal region.

END/AHS/SMA/