আজ ২০শে ফাল্গুন, ১৪৩২ বঙ্গাব্দ, ৪ঠা মার্চ, ২০২৬ ইং

When Warmth Is a Luxury: The Hidden Winter Crisis

Dr. Rozana Ria
MBBS Graduate

As winter slowly knocks at our doors, many city dwellers look forward to cozy mornings, hot coffee, and fashionable sweaters. But in the rural corners of Bangladesh, winter arrives not as a season of joy, but as a silent struggle for survival.

In northern and riverine districts such as Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Gaibandha, and Rangpur, the cold wave is merciless. People live in thin bamboo huts or tin-shed houses that barely shield them from the biting wind. When temperatures drop below 8–10°C, the chill penetrates their bones. For families living hand-to-mouth, buying warm clothes is not even an option.

Children, the elderly, and pregnant women are most vulnerable. Cold-related illnesses such as cough, pneumonia, and asthma become common. Villagers huddle around small fires made from dry leaves or straw, trying to survive the night. For day laborers, winter often means fewer workdays and fewer meals.

While urban residents rely on heaters, geysers, and thick blankets, rural families make do with torn quilts and jute sacks. The gap between comfort and suffering grows wider every year—not because the weather has changed, but because our collective response has not.

It is time to ask ourselves: how long will warmth remain a luxury for someone? Every winter, social media fills with appeals for blankets and warm clothing, yet the need far outweighs the response. Imagine if each city resident donated just one blanket—no rural family would have to sleep shivering on a cold floor.

Several organizations are doing remarkable work. The Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, Prothom Alo Bondhushava, BRAC, Bidyanondo Foundation, JAAGO Foundation, and Sajida Foundation run winter relief drives every year. But compassion cannot rest on their shoulders alone. Each of us can contribute—through volunteering, donations, or simply spreading awareness.

We must also think beyond immediate relief. Local authorities can organize community fires, warming shelters in schools or mosques, and low-cost home insulation programs. Health camps during the cold months can save lives by providing quick medical attention to those affected.

Winter should never be a matter of survival. It should be a season of togetherness, where warmth is not a privilege, but a shared responsibility.

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