The seasons we grew up with are slowly fading

Bangladesh’s long-standing tradition of six seasons—summer, monsoon, autumn, late autumn, winter, and spring—is diminishing as climate change alters weather patterns. Experts note that summer now lasts longer and is hotter, while monsoons are increasingly erratic, and winter remains the only clearly defined season. Autumn and spring, once distinct, are becoming harder to distinguish, disrupting traditional agricultural and cultural rhythms. The shift has severe consequences for farming, the backbone of Bangladesh’s rural economy. Farmers rely on seasonal cues for planting and harvesting, but unpredictable rainfall, prolonged heat, and sudden storms—such as hailstorms during the Boro rice season—now threaten crops. In the haor regions, early rainfall triggers fears of flash floods, while mango orchards in northern districts suffer repeated losses from extreme weather, leaving farmers vulnerable to financial instability. Scientists attribute these changes to global warming, warning that even small temperature increases will worsen extreme weather, including floods, droughts, and heatwaves. Bangladesh, despite contributing minimally to global greenhouse gas emissions, remains highly exposed due to its low-lying terrain and reliance on climate-sensitive sectors like agriculture and fisheries. Adaptation efforts are critical, with environmentalists calling for improved weather forecasting, climate-resilient crops, and stronger flood protection systems. They emphasize the need for global cooperation to address the root causes of climate change, as local solutions alone cannot mitigate the broader environmental challenges affecting the country. The fading of Bangladesh’s six seasons reflects a broader global trend, where traditional weather patterns are being reshaped by climate disruption. Without intervention, the uncertainty will deepen, further straining communities dependent on seasonal predictability for survival.