Even at the middle of monsoon when the fields, roads and the surroundings are usually infested with heavy rainfall, people of Rajshahi region are being deprived of even a drop of rain for more than last one fortnight. Very hot weather with nearly 40 degree Celsius of day temperature has been prevailing in Rajshahi for the last couple of days as drought-like situations are being noticed elsewhere in the Rajshahi region. Lives of thousands of people in the region have become unbearable due to extreme hot temperatures throughout the day and the night. Moreover, frequent load shedding of electricity is making the lives of people more intolerable.
The condition of daily wage earners and the day labourers has become more vulnerable. Rickshaw pullers, auto-drivers, farm hands and construction workers are becoming tired and sweating heavily in their work. Some of them are also seen to take water frequently and to take rest under the shade of trees or buildings to get rid of the extreme heat.
Sales of cold drinks, water and green-coconuts have increased tremendously in the city of Rajshahi and the surrounding districts. A small sized cocoanut is being sold at Tk 60 to 80 and a large one is at Tk 100 per piece.
Rezwanul Haque, Senior Observation Officer of Meteorological office in Rajshahi informed, it is unnatural that there is no rainfall for a long time even during the month of Ashar ( rainy season ). There was only 0.2 millimeter of rainfall on June-28 in Rajshahi and so far there is no rainfall at all. Due to the absence of rainfall for long days, the day temperature of Rajshahi region is also increasing gradually. It is unlikely that the day temperature of the region would wane unless there is no heavy rainfall here.
Meanwhile, due to the absence of rainfall for a long time during monsoon, the field and crops lands throughout the region are drying up. The cultivation and growth of Aman paddy is being hampered badly due to absence of rainfall.
Due to absence of rainfall, farmers are using irrigated water from deep-tubewells but that is not sufficient enough for smooth growth of the paddy plants and the irrigated water is also costly. As a result, the production of Aman paddy which is the staple crop of Bangladesh, is likely to be hampered and the cost of production of paddy would be higher as well.