Jatish Chandra Barman, a tractor driver in Barunagaon village of Thakurgaon, struggles against biting winds as he tills frozen croplands. "The cold winds make it extremely difficult to drive the tractor," says the 35-year-old, his breath visible in the air.

But for farmers like Rafiqul Islam, there's no choice but to brave the bitter cold. "We must nurture our potato plants now to prevent pests and fungal attacks," he says.

This week, Panchagarh recorded the coldest day of the season at 7.3 degrees Celsius yesterday, the lowest temperature in the country so far. Dinajpur was not far behind, with the mercury dipping to 9.7 degrees Celsius.

According to the Meteorological Department, the region is under a mild to moderate cold wave, amplified by cold winds rolling down from the Himalayas. Temperatures between 8 and 10 degrees Celsius mark a mild cold wave, while anything below 6 is considered severe.

For farmer Yunus Ali in Dinajpur Sadar upazila, the cold brings a different worry. "My paddy seedbeds are at risk. If this weather persists, they will be ruined," he says.

Others, like rickshaw-puller Md Sattar from Nishchintapur in Thakurgaon, are seeing their incomes plummet. "I can only work a few hours a day in this cold. My earnings have dropped to half of what they were," the 55-year-old says.

Schools, too, are feeling the chill. At Abdur Rashid Degree College, Principal Anwar Sahadat said there is a significant drop in attendance. "The cold has kept many students at home," he said.

The cold is also taking a toll on health. Hospitals say there is a surge in patients with respiratory and cold-related illnesses.

"The number of cases has significantly increased," says Rakibul Alam, resident medical officer at Thakurgaon Modern Hospital.

While district administrations in Panchagarh, Thakurgaon, and Dinajpur are distributing warm clothes, the demand far outweighs the supply.

Officials have urged wealthier residents to lend a hand to mitigate the suffering.