Are we listening to nature’s warning signs?

Bangladesh is a land whose agriculture, economy and way of life are closely intertwined with nature.

People here used to predict the future of crops by looking at the clouds in the sky and judge the security of their livelihood by also looking at the flow of rivers.

But nowadays, nature seems to be losing its natural rhythm.

The seasonal cycle is no longer as stable as it used to be.

Summers are getting longer, winters are getting shorter, and the monsoons are often erratic.

Amidst these abnormalities, as reported there is a risk of a strong ‘El Niño’ re-emerging on Earth.

It is a powerful natural cycle in the global climate system, which affects the weather in many regions of the world through changes in the temperature of the distant Pacific Ocean.

Though Bangladesh is not located directly on the Pacific Ocean, but it has a deep relationship with the South Asian monsoon system.

As a result, the warming of the Pacific Ocean may ultimately affect our agriculture, food system, public health and economy.

Experts are articulating concern that if a strong El Niño is active this time, the monsoon season in Bangladesh may be delayed, rainfall may decrease and heat waves may occur more frequently.

The experience of 2024 is still fresh in people’s memories.

For 36 consecutive days, temperatures of 36 to 42 degrees Celsius prevailed in different parts of the country.

Due to the extreme heat, schools had to be closed, the demand for electricity had increased tremendously, and the number of patients suffering from heat stroke, dehydration and diarrhea in hospitals had increased alarmingly.

Also the most affected by the extreme heat are daily wage workers, agricultural workers, rickshaw pullers and low-income people.

This crisis is even direr for Bangladesh’s agricultural sector. The country’s Aman rice is dependent on monsoon water, while Boro cultivation requires huge irrigation.

If the monsoon is delayed, planting of Aman seedlings will be disrupted, the land will dry up in a long drought, and the fields will be flooded in sudden heavy rains.

As a result, food production will decrease, and the prices of rice, wheat and daily necessities will increase in the market.

In this situation, unplanned urbanization, encroachment of canals and water bodies, and the trend of environmental destruction must be stopped.

We must remember that nature never takes revenge – nature only restores balance.

The question is – will we pay attention to this warning signal of nature restoring balance, or will we remain calm, thinking ‘let’s go on as it is’?