Sylhet Bureau :
A mild to moderate heat wave has gripped the people of Sylhet and as a result, the normal livelihood of the region, is being affected badly.
Due to the absence of rainfall, the people of Sylhet are experiencing scorching heat from dawn to dusk. The high humidity of 95pc in the mornings is also making the lives of people in the city unbearable.
The local met office recorded the season’s highest temperature at 34.5°C on Sunday.
During the last two weeks, the mercury remained between 32°C to 34°C, said Sayeed Ahamed Chowdhury, senior observatory officer of Sylhet Meteorological Office.
The condition of the working class, especially day labourers, rickshaw and van pullers, construction workers, masons and street vendors have turned miserable due to the daylong hot spell.
With no traces of rainfall or even a speck of cloud in the sky for over one week, people are being forced to remain indoors and are not daring to come out except for emergencies during the daytime.
On a visit to the city’s Surma Market area at noon, this correspondent saw around 10-12 people taking rest under the Sylhet Kinbridge.
Anwar, a rickshaw puller, said he came here to take a break as the number of people on the road was getting a little lower.
Two other rickshaw pullers said that they were extremely fatigued after carrying passengers on the hot summer morning.
Anwara Begum, a woman from the city’s Raynagar, said she could not stand the heat of the stove when cooking. ‘If it rained, everyone would get some relief from this unbearable heat.’
An observer at the Sylhet Meteorological Office, said the mild to moderate heat wave caused by the prolonged absence of rainfall was an indication of rapid climate change.
