To be honest, after seeing this contest question, I sat quietly for several minutes, deep in thought. I had certainly come across the term 'Super El Niño' in newspapers or on TV news tickers many times, but I had never paused to consider what it actually entailed. I used to think it was just some phenomenon occurring in a distant ocean—what did it matter to us? But then the thought struck me: what if it actually wreaked havoc in our country? Unable to suppress my curiosity, I decided to do some research.

Src

I neither understand complex scientific jargon nor could I explain it to you. In simple terms—as I understood it—when the waters of the Pacific Ocean become excessively hot, the global weather system seems to go haywire. In some places, rain suddenly vanishes, leaving the soil cracked and parched, while in others, torrential downpours wash away homes and livelihoods. And when the prefix 'Super' is added to the name, you can imagine just how severe this chaos can become.

So, what exactly is my concern regarding Bangladesh?

Our lives are fundamentally rooted in the soil and our paddy crops. If the crops in the fields don't survive, there will be no food on our tables. Just imagine: if a prolonged drought and scorching heat set in, what would our farmers do? They would exhaust their savings on diesel and electricity just to pump irrigation water from underground. The mere thought of how high the prices of rice and vegetables might soar due to rising production costs sends shivers down my spine.

Beyond that, consider the hardships faced by ordinary people. Have you ever ridden a rickshaw in the midday sun during the months of Chaitra and Baishakh? It feels as though your skin is burning right off. If temperatures were to rise by even a few more degrees, mere survival would become a battle for day laborers and those who pull vans on the streets. Cases of heatstroke and diarrhea would spike in every household, and a desperate scramble for water would ensue.

However, I see no point in becoming overwhelmed with panic right now just by thinking about these possibilities. After all, no human can predict exactly what form nature might take at any given time. Instead of giving in to fear, it is wise to be somewhat prepared in one's own way.

Src

Take my own family, for instance—I cannot conjure up a magical solution to avert a natural disaster. However, I can certainly keep a few packets of oral rehydration salts (ORS) in the drawer. I will also keep some lemon, jaggery, or glucose at home to help revitalize the body after returning from the heat outside. Most importantly, I will keep a close watch on my parents and the children in the house to ensure they do not venture out unnecessarily under the scorching midday sun.

Nature’s changing moods are beyond human control. The people of this alluvial land have lived their lives contending with cyclones, floods, and droughts. Therefore, rather than spreading panic through fake news on social media, our best tools right now are staying attentive to official weather updates, avoiding water wastage, and simply remaining conscious and prepared.