A father’s love is quiet but it’s always there
Shahariar Islam Sovon:
We often talk about superheroes the ones in capes, saving the world in spectacular fashion. But in countless homes, across cities and villages alike, there exists a quieter kind of hero. He doesn’t wear a cape. He doesn’t fly. But he wakes up before everyone else, works long hours, carries invisible burdens, and silently makes sure everything is in place — he is simply called Baba, Abbu, Papa, or Dad.
On this Father’s Day, while the world shares photos and posts in appreciation, many of us still struggle to say three simple words to the man who shaped our lives: I love you.
Fathers are often the most misunderstood figures in our lives. While mothers are openly affectionate and expressive, fathers tend to love from the shadows — in quiet gestures, small sacrifices, and unspoken commitments. They’re the ones who fix broken bicycles, silently pay school fees, and skip their own needs just to fulfill ours.
“Growing up, I thought my father was just strict,” recalls 28-year-old Mehnaz Rahman, a Dhaka-based banker. “It wasn’t until I started earning that I understood the pressure he must have felt providing for a family of five. But I never told him how much I love him — I still haven’t.”
For many, the image of a father is associated with strength and stability. A man who doesn’t flinch when times get tough. A man who endures silently so his children don’t have to.
“When I lost my job last year, my father stepped in without saying a word,” shares Shakib Hasan, a freelancer. “He just said, ‘Don’t worry, we’ll manage.’ That’s his way of saying, ‘I’ve got you.’”
Fathers often express love not through words, but through action — dropping us to school in the rain, staying up when we’re sick, or teaching us life lessons during quiet evening walks.
Despite everything they do, many fathers rarely hear words of affection from their children.
“I say ‘I love you’ to my mom all the time,” says university student Riya Chowdhury. “But to my dad? It feels awkward. Still, I know he waits for it.”
Psychologists say this emotional gap is cultural as well as generational. Many South Asian fathers were raised to be stoic and emotionally reserved, passing that trait down — often unintentionally.
“Fathers need love too,” says Dr. Nadia Alam, a family therapist. “They may not ask for it, but they feel deeply. A simple ‘thank you’ or ‘I love you, Dad’ can mean the world to them.”
Father’s Day isn’t just about giving gifts or sharing social media posts — it’s about recognition. It’s a chance to look our fathers in the eye and say what we often leave unsaid: Thank you. I see you. I love you.
So today, if your father is with you, sit down beside him — even if it feels awkward — and say it. If he’s far away, call him. If he’s no longer here, remember him, write to him, talk about him.
Because behind every silent father is a heart that has always loved loudly — just in a different language.