A sweltering heatwave combined with humid conditions has made life increasingly uncomfortable in Cox’s Bazar, with the local population struggling under intense sunshine from the morning hours.
As the heat intensifies, people are turning to cold beverages for relief, with lemonade emerging as the most popular choice.
From upscale hotels and restaurants to beachside shops and makeshift roadside stalls, lemon juice is now widely available across the coastal town. It has become one of the easiest and most popular drinks for locals and tourists to cool off.
On Friday afternoon, visits to the Laboni, Sugandha and Kolatoli points of Cox’s Bazar sea beach showed that, despite the oppressive heat, a large number of tourists were present. Some were swimming in the sea, others strolling along the shore, while many were seen queuing at lemonade stalls to ease fatigue.
“Walking outside in this heat has become extremely difficult. After coming to the beach and having a chilled lemonade, it feels quite refreshing,” said Riyaz Uddin, a tourist from Dhaka.
Another visitor, Tanzila Akter from Chattogram, said, “Alongside seeing the sea, having drinks here is part of the experience. The sweet-and-sour lemonade offers real comfort in this weather.”
Not only tourists but also local residents are regularly consuming lemon drinks to cope with the heat, significantly increasing the workload of vendors across the city.
Mohammad Ismail, a lemonade vendor at the Kolatoli beach area, said sales have surged recently due to the extreme weather. “We are now selling hundreds of glasses every day, especially in the afternoon when tourist footfall increases,” he said.
“Earlier, we used to sell around 200–300 glasses a day. Now, because of the heat, sales have gone beyond 500 glasses. People are drinking it to find some relief from the scorching weather,” he added.
However, doctors have cautioned against consuming beverages prepared in open roadside conditions.
Dr Subaktagin Mohammad Sohel, Residential Medical Officer at Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital, told Cox’s Bazar Life that many roadside juices and drinks are made using artificial sweeteners, including saccharin, and may also involve unsafe water and ice, posing health risks.
He further advised that instead of excessively cold drinks, people should drink safe water at a normal temperature to prevent dehydration and reduce the risk of heatstroke.
According to physicians, staying hydrated, eating light meals, and avoiding unnecessary sun exposure are the safest measures during extreme heat.
They also emphasised caution when consuming street foods and beverages in such conditions.
By Abdu Rashid Manik
Photo: Hussain Shetu
