How Winter Exposes the Harsh Reality of Homelessness in Dhaka’s Streets

For the past several days, a severe cold wave has been sweeping across Bangladesh, including the capital city Dhaka. As temperatures drop sharply, the harsh reality of winter exposes deep social vulnerabilities that often remain hidden during other seasons. In different corners of the city bus terminals, railway stations, footpaths, parks, and under flyovers thousands of people are passing freezing nights under the open sky. Wrapped only in thin polythene sheets, worn-out blankets, or torn clothing, these individuals struggle to survive the cold, highlighting a humanitarian crisis that demands urgent attention.

Winter in urban Bangladesh is not merely a seasonal discomfort for the homeless and extreme poor, it becomes a matter of survival. Infants, elderly people, people with disabilities, and those suffering from illness are the most vulnerable. Exposure to cold significantly increases the risk of pneumonia, respiratory infections, hypothermia, and even death. Despite medical warnings, these risks are largely ignored as the homeless lack both shelter and access to healthcare. The absence of safe sleeping spaces forces them to endure long hours of cold nights, making winter a silent but deadly threat to urban life.

Dhaka has witnessed remarkable economic growth over the years. Infrastructure has expanded, flyovers and metro rail projects have transformed mobility, and per capita income statistics reflect national progress. Yet, beneath this narrative of development lies a painful contradiction. Economic indicators cannot conceal the reality that a significant portion of the population remains excluded from basic human necessities. Development loses its meaning when people are left to sleep on pavements during freezing nights. The persistence of homelessness during winter questions the inclusiveness and human-centered nature of urban development policies.

The presence of homeless populations in public spaces is not accidental, it is the result of systemic neglect, rural poverty, climate displacement, unemployment, and rising living costs in cities. Many of those sleeping on the streets are daily wage earners, informal workers, or migrants who contribute significantly to the city’s economy. However, without affordable housing options or social safety nets, they are forced into inhumane living conditions. Winter simply makes their suffering more visible, reminding society of long-standing policy failures rather than temporary hardship.

While charitable initiatives increase during winter, relying solely on seasonal generosity is neither sustainable nor sufficient. Distribution of blankets and warm clothes, though necessary, often remains uncoordinated and limited in reach. Many vulnerable groups remain untouched, while assistance sometimes arrives late, when the cold has already caused irreversible harm. A welfare system cannot depend on goodwill alone; it must be backed by structured planning, accountability, and institutional responsibility to ensure protection for all citizens, particularly during extreme weather conditions.

One of the most pressing needs during winter is the establishment of safe night shelters. Temporary or permanent shelters can provide immediate relief by offering warmth, security, sanitation, and basic medical support. Cities across the world operate winter shelters as part of urban emergency planning. In Dhaka, however, such facilities remain scarce, inadequate, or inaccessible. Expanding shelter infrastructure across all zones of the city would not only save lives but also restore dignity to people who are otherwise treated as invisible.

Shelter planning must also consider safety and inclusivity. Women, children, elderly people, and persons with disabilities require separate and secure spaces. Fear of harassment often prevents vulnerable groups from accessing overcrowded or poorly managed shelters. Therefore, any shelter initiative must include proper management, lighting, sanitation, and security arrangements. Collaboration between city corporations, social welfare departments, and local administrations is essential to ensure that shelters are functional, humane, and accessible throughout the winter season.

Beyond emergency response, homelessness must be addressed as a long-term urban governance issue. The lack of affordable housing, rising rent prices, and informal settlement evictions continue to push low-income populations onto the streets. Without inclusive housing policies and rental support mechanisms, winter shelters will remain a temporary solution to a permanent problem. Urban planning must integrate low-cost housing schemes, worker dormitories, and rehabilitation programs to prevent homelessness from recurring every winter.

Public health considerations further underline the urgency of action. Cold exposure weakens immunity and increases the burden on already overstretched healthcare systems. Preventable illnesses among the homeless often escalate into emergencies, requiring hospital admissions that could have been avoided with basic shelter. Investing in preventive measures such as shelters and winter support is not only humane but also economically sensible, reducing long-term healthcare costs and social burdens.

Civil society organizations and volunteers play an important role in highlighting these issues, but their efforts must be supported by state-led coordination. Without data-driven planning, many initiatives overlap in some areas while others remain neglected. A centralized winter response mechanism, supported by local governments and law enforcement, could ensure fair distribution of resources and identify high-risk zones requiring immediate intervention during cold waves.

The moral dimension of this crisis cannot be ignored. A society’s progress is not measured solely by skyscrapers or economic rankings, but by how it treats its most vulnerable members. When people are left to shiver on pavements while cities continue to function around them, it reflects a collective failure of responsibility. Social justice demands that basic protection from cold be recognized as a fundamental human necessity, not a privilege dependent on charity.

As winter continues to tighten its grip, the need for decisive action becomes more urgent. Temporary relief must be combined with long-term planning to ensure that no one is forced to spend freezing nights under the open sky. Safe shelters, inclusive housing policies, and coordinated welfare responses can transform winter from a season of suffering into a test of compassion and governance. A humane city is one where development and dignity move forward together, leaving no one behind in the cold.

 
MD. Noor Hamza Peash is a
legal researcher and a
freelance columnist.