Winter in Bangladesh Wrapped in a Blanket of Fog

Hello dear friends,
I hope you all are doing well and spending a beautiful life with your loved ones. I wish you all happiness and peace.

Bangladesh is a country located on the coast of the Bay of Bengal in South Asia. Generally, six seasons are seen in this land—summer, monsoon, autumn, late autumn, winter, and spring. Among them, winter is the shortest season, lasting only two months: December and January. Although winter stays for a short time, its impact on people’s lives is deep and painful.

This year, winter has arrived with more intensity than usual. From the middle of December, cold weather has spread across the country. The northern and eastern parts of Bangladesh usually feel stronger cold because these regions are closer to the foothills of the Himalayas. Cold air flows down from the Himalayas and affects these areas more. However, this year the cold is not limited to those regions—it is being felt all over Bangladesh, including urban areas.

For the past week, the sun has almost disappeared. Dense fog covers the sky every morning, making daylight unclear. I usually leave home around 9 a.m. to go to my office. But today’s morning was different. As soon as I stepped onto the road, I was shocked. Thick fog had covered everything. The roads were barely visible. Vehicles were moving slowly with their headlights on. People standing by the roadside were shivering from the cold.

Office-going people, daily workers, rickshaw pullers, and pedestrians were all wearing extra layers of clothing. Some were wearing two or three jackets, yet the cold seemed to pass through their bodies. Normally, the fog starts to disappear by 7 or 8 in the morning, and the sun comes out. But today, the sun failed to break through the heavy fog.

According to weather reports, the cold may increase further in the coming days. Because of this, the sale of winter clothes has increased a lot this year. Those who have money can buy two or three warm clothes instead of one. People living in houses can stay under blankets and quilts, yet many of them still complain about the cold.

But have we ever stopped to think about the people who sleep on sidewalks, under trees, or beside the roads? They have no blankets, no warm clothes, and no proper shelter. For them, this cold is cruel and dangerous. Not only humans, but animals and birds are also suffering in this extreme cold. They struggle to find food and safe places to stay.

Many of us enjoy winter by sharing foggy photos on social media. We talk about the beauty of winter mornings. But behind this beauty, there is deep pain and suffering. Hunger can sometimes be tolerated, and hardship can be endured, but extreme cold is very difficult to bear.

Winter may last for only one more month, but this one month can be the hardest time of the year for many people. That is why those of us who have the ability should stand beside the cold-stricken people. A single blanket, an old sweater, or a small act of kindness can save a life.

Let us not allow humanity to freeze in this winter. Let us spread warmth through kindness and compassion. Standing beside the helpless in winter is our greatest responsibility.