Moshiur Rahman Selim, Cumilla South 

People of all professions in the greater Laksam upazila of Cumilla's southern region have become extremely distressed by the early summer heatwave and sweltering humidity of the past few days. 

Throughout the  Bengali month of Chaitra, severe drought and oppressive heat have emptied the alleys, marketplaces, and roads of the area. Due to the impact of climate change, the lives of people and rural communities in greater Laksam upazila have become disrupted and miserable due to the intense drought and heatwave of the last few days. As a result, thousands of children, adolescents, the elderly, and people of all professions have been affected by various viral diseases. 

Moreover, the prolonged lack of rain is causing poisonous lead to spread in the air with dust, and plants and crops in arable land are withering. Furthermore, illegal soil extraction by tractors and 'bhegus' (a type of shallow excavator) has damaged the government's paved and unpaved roads, polluting the environment with flying dust. Additionally, black smoke from rice mills and brick kilns is endangering the local environment.

Multiple local sources report that the intensity of the heat throughout the month of Chaitra has disrupted the lives of people in this region. Hundreds of children, adolescents, and the elderly are suffering from various heat-related viral diseases. In the past few weeks, government hospitals, health centers, clinics, and private hospitals in the southern part of the district have treated approximately 3,000 patients with various viral infections. Drug stores are experiencing a large influx of patients with viral illnesses. People in this region have become speechless due to the extreme heatwave and humidity. During the day, the extreme heat is causing additional suffering to the homeless, children, adolescents, and the elderly in this area.

 Moreover, various viral diseases have appeared severely. In the last 24 hours, the temperature in this region has reached the highest point of the season.

Although there is some relief from the gentle Chaitra breeze in the area, there is a shortage of pure water and medicine. Canals, ponds, and rivers are now dry. People are being deceived by buying various brands of bottled and jar water and counterfeit medicines in the name of pure water from the market.

Sources further state that the local weather office had issued an early warning of continuous sweltering heat, raising concerns about natural disasters. However, due to climate change, the monsoon season is being delayed significantly.

 Consequently, farmers are facing major difficulties in the upcoming Boro paddy, summer vegetables, and fish farming due to the current water scarcity. The heatwave of Chaitra has severely impacted the livelihoods of local laborers, daily wage earners, and the homeless. In the past few months, various heat-related viral diseases have increased in the area due to the intense heat and sweltering humidity. Patients affected by these diseases are constantly crowding the drug stores. Children, adolescents, and the elderly are the most affected by these viral infections. Locals believe that if it does not rain within the next 2-4 days, the incidence of diseases will increase further.

Several doctors from local private hospitals report that the number of patients with viral illnesses has been increasing due to the continuous heat of the past few days. Due to the Chaitra heatwave, sweltering heat during the day, cold at night, and climate change, there is a higher number of patients with diarrhea, dysentery, skin diseases, and asthma, among other viral infections. They advise maintaining cleanliness, drinking plenty of cold water, consuming cold foods, saline solutions, sherbet, sugarcane juice, juice, ice, and seasonal fruits. This heatwave is not only causing unrest in public life but also increasing health risks for the human body.

Despite repeated attempts via mobile phone, it was not possible to obtain any comments from officials of the district and upazila health departments and several other relevant offices regarding this matter.