The wintry chill is conspicuously absent this year. One wonders what has happened to the weather pattern. The Bengali month Magh has entered into its third week. The country is supposed to experience the coldest weather of the season now. Barring some northern districts, residents of most of the areas in the country are experiencing moderate weather condition.
At the beginning of December, the Meteorological Department, in its long-range forecast for the month, said that winter would arrive gradually after the middle of the month. But the forecast has proved wrong.
Bangladesh has been experiencing comparatively warmer winter for the last five years. The residents are feeling less cold this winter than that of the previous five years. The temperature during this winter was 2.0-3.0 degree Celsius higher than that of the previous years.
Winter in Bangladesh generally stays for two months -- Poush and Magh --(December and January). Usually, temperature dips during the end of Poush and the beginning of Magh. But this year, meteorologists observed relatively warmer temperature during these months.
January is supposed to be the coldest month in Bangladesh, with the average temperature in most parts of the country hovering around 10 degree Celsius. But this season the highest temperature was recorded at 26 degrees Celsius in Teknaf last week. The temperature in the capital city is higher than other parts of the country.
According to official statistics, December was in fact warm with an average temperature of 20 degrees Celsius. In January this year, Dhaka experienced an average temperature of 22 degree Celsius.
Weather analysts say the country is experiencing relatively less cold this winter because the sub-continental ridge, which usually contributes to cold waves, was not formed properly this year.
Two moderate cold waves hit Bangladesh in December last year. Meteorologist say, a mild cold wave may sweep the country at the end of this month as the ridge of sub-continental high may extend up to Bihar of India and adjoining area at that time.
The year 2015 was reportedly the warmest in the history of earth while a large number of people had died of heat waves in Pakistan and India. The erratic behaviour of climate has led to the rise in normal temperature in Bangladesh. There is no equilibrium in temperature, humidity and rainfall.
What is worrying is that warm temperature might cast negative impact on the country's agriculture, ecosystem and biodiversity. Farmers will be adversely affected due to such rise in temperature. For the past few years, winter in Bangladesh is getting short - arriving late and staying only briefly. Analysts relate it to the climate-related changes and abuse of natural resources.
The abnormality in weather pattern is also due to the unplanned establishments on wetlands and shrinking water bodies. Rapid urbanisation may be another cause for lowering the intensity of cold in the cities. In fact, exorbitant consumption of river water for irrigation purposes and unabated encroachment and grabbing of river has ultimately resulted in temperature rise.
Shrinking of water bodies combined with deforestation has also left a tremendous impact on the micro-climatic factors raising the temperature of the country significantly. Dwindling groundwater level and surface water reduction are also contributing to the rise in temperature.
In order to deal with the rising temperature and climate change situation properly, there is no alternative to the preservation of water bodies and wetlands along with mass plantation throughout the country. Increased use of renewable energy for power is also a solution.
[email protected]
