At a time when wintry chill was making news from the country's north, the middle and southern regions gave the impression that the season was hesitant to make its appearance there. Even the gentle breeze that blew at times from north in the first week of the month Poush on the Bangla calendar brought a pleasant feeling reminiscent of a reverse Spring, the king of seasons. Just at the time people were arriving at the conclusion that the Winter might be conspicuous by its absence this year too, they were caught off guard by its sudden arrival.
In a country where the sultry Summer is intolerable, usually the Winter is not as brutal as it is in the western hemisphere where freezing temperature and snowfall are usual occurrences. In Bangladesh the mercury never dips below sub-zero level for snow formation. The lowest temperature ever recorded in Tetulia was 2.6 degree Celsius in January, 2018, not enough for snowfall. But this is news that Dhaka which often records 2.0-4.0 degree higher temperature than the rest of the country experienced temperature of 14 degree Celsius on Thursday.
Yes, Thursday saw the sky overcast with the sun hiding behind the thick hazy layers of clouds. Also sharp chilly gusts made the matter worse for people who happened to travel on open vehicles like auto rickshaws, contraptions of various shapes and sizes. Friday also became a witness to similar weather with the temperature dipping to 15 degree Celsius.
The Met office has projections that might bring some solace for people who are compelled to go out or work in open space, particularly for the floating people who have to sleep on footpath or the open porches of shops or shopping malls. From Saturday onwards three to four days will see substantial rise in temperature. But thereafter the projection is not at all welcome. Winter will strike with renewed gusto for the next five days following the improvement of weather in between.
In the West, they have snow and we have fog. Yes, fog may not pile up ice on the road but thick fog can make commute difficult. When snowfall gathers to mountainous proportion to ice in the western countries, roads get blocked making commute impossible. If cars are left in the open, they are buried under heavy layers of snow. In this part of the world, vehicles can negotiate fog to some extent by keeping the headlights on. But no such trick works for launches and steamers on waterways.
So the Winter curtails freedom of movement. But it is also the time when schools and other educational institutions remain closed after the annual examinations or completion of a semester. It is time for families to choose their excursion either at home or abroad. As the rest of the world shivers, Australia smarts under sweltering heat. So those who can afford, may consider that continent of kangaroo a travel destination. Sri Lanka and New Zealand may also figure on the choice list. As for those willing to limit their travel within the country, may opt for either of the two sea beaches in Cox's Bazar and Kuakata.
But then people in a mood to make their kids have a taste of the rural charms that still is there would rather visit their ancestral homes. The villages have changed for both better or worse but fresh eyes can still delve deep into the calm and balmy environment surrounding homes and open spaces. The ecosystem is different and appeals to sense and sensibilities there. The most sensitive minds of children are likely to experience some kind of blissful interaction with Nature that still retains some of its simple and pristine beauty.
If there are date trees and people called gachhis (men who extract juice from date trees), that is a bonus for children. The pure molasses made from date juice in this chilly winter is an unforgettable treat. Cakes made from newly harvested rice and molasses make a perfect match. Perhaps this is the most precious gift to people from the Winter. Unfortunately, the gachhis are now a rare breed and in several villages, date trees are not allowed to grow or if there are a few, those remain untended.
Like any other season, the Winter does not appear as an unmixed blessing. This is because the poor and homeless people suffer as the biting cold invades their unfortified abodes. Like the floating people in urban centres, the poor villagers are also ill prepared to face a colder Winter. In this election time, the candidates, social workers and rich people can distribute blankets among the hapless people both in villages and cities or towns.
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