After two weeks of scorching heat, three hours of heavy rain relieved the residents of Cox’s Bazar. Starting early Sunday morning (May 18), the downpour continued until 8 AM, overflowing drains and turning main roads and alleyways into muddy streams.
But the rain didn’t just disrupt daily life in the city—it also dealt a blow to the local economy. Salt production, a key livelihood in the coastal areas, has again stopped due to the unexpected weather.
According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, Cox’s Bazar recorded 111 millimeters of rainfall 24 hours before Sunday noon. Assistant meteorologist Md. Abdul Hannan said similar weather conditions will persist for two to three days.
Md. Zafar Iqbal Bhuiyan, Deputy General Manager of the BSCIC Salt Industry Development Office in Cox’s Bazar, explained that after a rainstorm, salt fields need four to five days to dry before production can resume. So far this season, 2,251,651 metric tons of salt have been produced—almost 100,000 tons less than last year.
By Mohammad Morshed
Cox’s Bazar Life Photo
