Winter is sometimes a season of celebration, sometimes a season of warmth. But the empty footpaths of the city, the dark shadows under the bridges, and the trembling cold of the night air tell us that winter does not bring happiness for everyone. When someone sleeps wrapped in a warm blanket, at that exact moment someone else stays awake all night fearing they might freeze to death. Winter seems like a cruel examiner, before whom people living in inhuman conditions especially street children lose every single day.
Thousands of people across Dhaka city and different parts of the country live an inhuman life during winter. Especially those who live on footpaths, stations, parks, or under bridges people who have no roof over their heads. And then there are countless street children whose home is the street, whose bed is a sheet of plastic, and whose blanket is old paper or a sack. The colder it gets, the deeper their suffering becomes. What we call the special feeling of winter, for them it is a silent terror of the night. To survive the winter, they huddle close to each other, wrapping themselves with torn clothes, sacks, or abandoned banners.
Every winter, various organisations and individuals start distributing blankets on an emergency basis, but the reality is that the help remains temporary, insufficient, and often fails to reach the right people. At Dhaka’s railway station, children aged 6–10 can be seen curling up at night, their hands and feet stiff from the cold, yet they have no proper warm clothes on their bodies. The situation of men and women living on footpaths is even more distressing. Some hold their small children tightly to their chest, hoping their own body warmth can save the little ones. Elderly people suffer the most in winter, because their bodies can no longer endure the cold. A small survey shows that the death rate of people living on the streets during winter is much higher than other seasons. Cold-related diseases, pneumonia, fever, and unhygienic conditions together make their lives even more uncertain.
This humanitarian crisis did not arise suddenly. There are deep social, economic, and administrative reasons behind it. Poverty and inequality are among the main reasons. Economic inequality in the country is so extreme that on one side there is a luxurious life, and on the other side, the struggle for survival on the footpath. This gap widens every day. Poverty forces people to lose their homes, jobs, and opportunities. Due to urbanisation and displacement, many are also forced to live an inhuman life. People come to the city from villages in search of work, but there is no guarantee of employment. The cost of living is sky-high. Those with minimal income cannot afford rented housing. And those who have no income at all are forced to live on the streets. Social neglect also plays a major role. There is no organised policy for street children. They belong to no family, to no one’s responsibility, so they remain outside state support. Many consider them a problem, some assume they are prone to crime. Thus society does not look at them with compassion. Lack of winter preparedness and policy failure causes thousands to suffer and die every year. There are few government shelters, and even those are not adequate. Many avoid these centres due to safety concerns. And winter aid programs are not long-term there is no year-round structured system.
This problem cannot be solved merely by expressing sadness. Some practical solutions are necessary. The number of government shelters must be increased and improved. Every city, district, and sub-district needs permanent winter shelters with food, medical support, and warm clothing. A long-term policy must be made for street children. They should be provided education, food, healthcare, and safe housing. Year-round initiatives are needed, not just temporary blanket distribution. NGO and community initiatives must be strengthened. Organisations already working need better coordination. Community-based clothing banks, blanket banks, or winter donation camps can be established. Societal involvement must be encouraged. Society needs to understand that these people are not burdens; they are citizens of the state. They have the right to live. Donating unused clothes or providing food these small steps can bring big change to our society. Employment opportunities and skill development should be prioritised. Many who live on the streets are willing to work. With proper training and job opportunities, they can afford their own housing and survive the winter with dignity.
Winter is not just a seasonal change it is a test of humanity. A society becomes truly civilised only when its weakest members are safe. Those who spend their nights on footpaths, those who curl up in torn cloths trying to survive the cold they are the invisible people of our society. If we do not stand beside them, then even in warm homes our humanity will turn cold. Winter is not a joy for everyone. The sooner we realise this truth, the sooner the stories will change for those whose survival under the open sky is a new struggle every night.
