People often ask me how cold it was in Toronto. I make a face because it was cold but let me tell you something. It often feels as cold in Dhaka as it did in Toronto.

Looking at a snow soaked night in that city far north of the world, I thought this was it, the mother of all winters of my life, never mind how old I was then. But here I am back in Dhaka after two decades and nearly plunging into another winter and wondering how this one will be.

Summer in Bangladesh is hot, humid and its relentless temperatures never come down. Amidst all this, I sometimes see the snow-clad roads of Toronto, the foggy night and the lonely streets in the daytime. And believe me, climate change hasn't reduced any snow fall in frozen Toronto. Why do I say this?

Dhaka in the 90s

When I think about the winters of Dhaka in the 90s, my old, soddy, bleary mind bleeps back to those days when "pitha" would be sold on roadside stalls but not for long and as the night grew and even the neighbourhood dogs would not be heard for miles as the clock went chilly.

It would be me getting ready at 6 or 7 ish in the morning for school and it would be damn near impossible for me not to notice the fog and smog competing with each other in the air even then. Sweaters and socks, scarves and jackets were not introduced in our household till I went teen but then I would never go out in the morning. Angering my mother felt scarier than facing the winter alone.

Dhaka had more scenes to offer in terms of wintry something then. There used to be vendors selling warm clothes along the roadside of various colors, shapes and sizes. Walking along the pavements, one could haggle for prices and buy an assortment of garments for a very small price compared to the tags now.

What I liked the most about this practice was my Mother taking me by the hand and touring several places where the vendors would stand, selling their merchandise and advertising themselves. Till today, this phenomenon has not changed. In fact, it has doubled, becoming popular in every neighbourhood and adjoining areas.

The wedding season and vacations by the sea

Winter is also the season of weddings in Dhaka. For those living in residential areas or fortunate enough to live in their own homes, Dhaka becomes a medley of street lights and string-like beads hanging from the terraces of most high-rises here. It's a wonder to watch and also observe family members arrive with food, decorations, wearing nice clothes and getting into the bridal seasonal mood. The streets become awash with yellow, and it in of itself becomes a hallmark of festivity and creates distant memories for the future.

People in Dhaka also like visiting resorts and Cox;s Bazar beach for winter vacations, often taking advantage of different packages for vacations offered by various companies. What one can tell about this practice is that during the winter time, the country gets to benefit from domestic revenue regeneration, allowing various agencies to make money on winter vacations during this time. Observing this trend, I can say with certainty that Dhaka's winter culture has remained the same from the time that I was in school, listening to my friends talk about their visits to different parts of the country then.

Working and studying in Toronto, however, I remember couples using our campus grounds for their wedding almost 10 years back. At this particular wedding, the bride wore pink and the bridegroom wore a black tuxedo, battling the wintry, autumn weather for their nuptials. Which got me thinking, how many people in this world are privileged enough to host their weddings with their families in a first world country, surrounded by friends? Not many.

Toronto is very chilly but heated too

For Toronto by itself, the evening and morning breezes during winter time eases and cools the body, a change from the scorching heat of summer. I remember taking a walk in the evening as night time would fall and just mesmerizing how the streets look devoid of traffic or people. In Dhaka, this sight is nowhere possible, for traffic and people are seen on the roads, 24/7. With climate change, becoming more acute and more of a reality with every day passing, I wonder if it will be possible to enjoy winters in either of the countries that I call home.

In Dhaka, when the temperature really dips, it feels very cold but in Toronto due to heating no temperature can bully you and its warm and comfortable.

With that kept in mind, here it is to more graceful and enjoyable winters in both the cities of Toronto and Dhaka.