Cold wave

The country has been passing through the coldest ever spell this season so far. Whether more such spells are waiting in the wing is yet to be known. The Dhaka Meteorological Department did not issue an early warning of the current cold wave sweeping across the north, west and middle parts of the country. All it predicted is a short visitation by chilly weather in the first half of the New Year. When that weather forecast was made, there was no sign of winter anywhere in the country. With the global warming at the back of people's mind, they rather had the ominous premonition of no chill in the entire winter season. To their great relief, perhaps, the winter has set in with its usual cold bite - even if it is for a short duration - across the greater parts of the country. Unless winter does not express itself in its full force, the effect of climate change only becomes more evident than thought.
After all, any disruption to the seasonal cycle is not good news for the planet, only more so for countries like Bangladesh facing the snow-balling effects of global warming and the consequent sea rise. Until now the weather office has been of the opinion that the cold spell will last only a couple of days more. If that happens, the theory of global warming will still gain further credence. Hopefully, the weather people will once again prove wrong. Every season has its charm and economy as well. The winter is famous for pitha (indigenous cake) made from powder of newly harvested rice and mouth-watering date molasses prepared from date juice. Winter vegetables too are a select variety with tastes unmatched by any during other seasons. Farmers grow quite a few such items such as potato and tomato which are preserved either in their original shape or through processing to meet the need of the country for the rest of the year. Potato and tomato, on that count, maintain both characteristics of vegetables and cereals and this is notwithstanding the fact that these are perishable items. So the aspect of preservation here has an enormous bearing on economy. What if winter takes leave forever!
While this longer view of chilly winter should give people enough reason to welcome the season, other considerations may not be equally compelling. In a country where the poor are still unable to afford brand new warm clothes and look for such second-hand items, a longer spell of chill may cause havoc. Not only do people suffer because of lack of warm clothes but they also fall victim to a number of diseases as a result. Particularly old people and children become the worst sufferers with a few breathing their last. Earlier there used to be a widespread campaign for collection of clothes for the poor in the worst-hit areas in the country's north. No such activities are now visible. Nowadays more people can donate their unused clothes for the purpose. Only there is an absence of the initiative. Let different organisations come forward in launching a campaign for helping the victims of chilly weather.