Residents struggle to cope with the relentless temperatures as the scorching heat continues to grip Cox’s Bazar. Stepping outside means being drenched in sweat within minutes. Many consume various types of beverages sold on the streets to quench their thirst, with sugarcane juice emerging as the most popular choice.
However, a spot visit to several street vendors revealed a worrying trend—sugarcane juice is often prepared and served in unhygienic conditions. Vendors crush the cane in open-air setups, where flies are visibly landing on the equipment and the juice. Health and hygiene measures are largely absent. Despite this, the juice, priced between Tk 20 and Tk 30 per glass, is consumed daily by people of all ages across the city.
According to Abdul Hannan, Assistant Meteorologist at the Meteorological Department, Cox’s Bazar has recently been experiencing temperatures hovering around 33 degrees Celsius. On Sunday, the temperature peaked at 34.6 degrees Celsius with humidity levels reaching approximately 60 percent.
Doctors advise people to drink plenty of clean water during extreme heat. They also caution against consuming unhygienic street food and beverages and recommend the use of umbrellas when outdoors.
Concerned citizens have called for the local administration to tighten monitoring and ensure stricter hygiene standards among street vendors to protect public health.
By Abdur Rashid Manik
Photo: Hussain Setu
