Letters to the Editor
Standing by floating people in severe winter
Sunday, 14 January 2024
Bangladesh is currently in the grip of a severe cold wave. People, especially those with meagre incomes, are struggling to cope up with the shivering cold, with dense fog at night and chilly wind in daytime. Children and the elderly are suffering from cold-related diseases such as pneumonia, while biting cold has hit the livelihoods of the low-income people, especially day labourers. They wait for work since early in the morning but return home empty-handed. Rickshaw-pullers are also getting only a few passengers amid this biting cold.
Thousands of homeless people live on pavements and streets of Dhaka city. They can be seen sleeping near ferry landings, train and bus stations, market centres, religious shrines, parks, on foot-bridges, footpaths, you name it, but nobody is concerned. The homeless are the worst-affected people in winter. The metrological office in its monthly report has forecasted that the northern, north-eastern and the central parts of the country might experience more cold spells this month. In its 72-hour forecast, the met office expects moderate to dense fog to blanket the country from midnight till morning, potentially disrupting air, sea and road traffic. Although the mercury is likely to rise slightly at night, the day temperature may drop and intensify the biting cold. The meteorological department also forecast rain or thundershowers in the next five days. According to the media, during those cold waves, the temperatures may go down to as low as 10-12 degrees Celsius. This is a scary piece of news for the poor and, especially, the homeless people.
Affluent people, through social media groups, clubs and communities, should come forward to help the floating people by donating blankets and warm clothes. But that is not enough. Temporary night shelters should be built for these floating people. Besides the authorities concerned and others also need to take up this issue seriously and stay by the homeless.
Afroza Sheikh,
Dania, Dhaka,
[email protected]