Coping with Cold
The sharp fall in night temperatures brought in by north-westerly wind from a 'Siberian high' and the adjoining states of India caused death to 11 people in the north-western region of Bangladesh.
This is only the fourth week of the Bangla month of Poush and Magh, the month usually associated with chill, is yet to come. Though the nip in the air has arrived late, we should brace ourselves for colder days ahead. Every year a good number of people die during winter, specially those who are old and infirm, and most of them for want of adequate clothes and shelter. Unlike what they do in relation to floods and cyclones, the government, NGOs and other social voluntary organisations hardly seem activated to pre-empt any attack of the cold spell. Neither there is any serious attempts to contain the menace that takes its annual toll.
In the next few weeks we might see the moderate cold spell taking a severe form in much of Bangladesh. In all the municipal areas the chairmen and ward commissioners should take care of the destitutes and vagrants by distributing warm clothes to them in collaboration with the concerned ministry, NGOs, voluntary social organisations and, of course, the Red Crescent. Appeals should be sent out loud and clear to not only the affluent class of people but also to those who have a roof over their heads and clothes, used and old, to spare for their brethren in distress. Door-to-door collection by voluntary humanitarian organisations, young men and women and students could be attempted. In villages the union councils or the community at large should come forward to help the people in distress and take care of them at least during these difficult days. We are sure there will be tremendous response from the people to such a huge humanitarian cause. While a timely step would save a lot of lives we need to be watchful about the unscrupulous who might try to turn the crisis into their kind of 'opportunity.'
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