<div><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><b>Normal livelihood of the region, particularly in the vast Barind tract, is being affected badly due to the ongoing sultry weather that has been experienced by the people for the past couple of days.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The dismayed people are thronging marketplaces to buy glucose, oral saline, watermelon and other fruit to get relief to some extent as an uneasy situation is prevailing everywhere in the region.</div><div><br></div><div>The Local Meteorological Office has recorded the highest temperature of 38.1 degrees Celsius at 3pm today, which is the season's highest temperature in the region against 38 degrees Celsius on Saturday.</div><div><br></div><div>The met office also recorded only 3.3 millimeters of rainfall since March 31 last. Abdus Salam, Observatory Staff of the Met Office, said they have not seen any significant rainfall in the region for the last couple of weeks because of the adverse impact of climate change.</div><div><br></div><div>He said mild heat weather is sweeping into the region that may continue for the next couple of days. The temperature may also rise.</div><div><br></div><div>Mostly, people whose livelihood depends on manual labour are the worst sufferers. Their daily income has been reduced as they are compelled to take a rest during the working hours in the daytime, creating a negative impact on their lives and livelihood.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, demand for seasonal fruits like pineapples, watermelons and green coconut has increased in the city because of the extreme heat.</div><div><br></div><div>Doctors at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) have advised everyone to drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.</div><div><br></div><div>Professor Redwanur Rahman of the Institute of Environmental Sciences at Rajshahi University (RU) opined that the prolonged rainless conditions have created a detrimental condition on the overall public health in terms of drinking water as well as the ecosystem and biodiversity.</div><div><br></div><div>Illustrating his academic and research expertise on the issue, Prof Rahman said global warming has been escalating gradually due to various reasons including carbon emissions resulting in climate change.</div><div><br></div><div>Massive emissions can be the effective means of substantial and sustainable reduction of carbon emissions, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, the utmost importance should be given to transforming the existing irrigation system in the Barind region into surface water-based instead of the groundwater ones to mitigate the existing water-stressed condition. - BSS</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>