Staff Reporter :
A relentless heatwave has clamped down on the country, with Dhaka, the capital city, feeling the brunt of its fury.
People are desperately seeking refuge from the sweltering conditions, and the consumption of street beverages has skyrocketed.
However, medical experts warn of potential health risks lurking beneath the surface of these tempting concoctions.
Bustling areas like Paltan and Gulistan have seen a mushrooming of makeshift beverage stalls. These stalls offer a dazzling array of drinks in vibrant colours and flavours, a siren song to everyone from rickshaw pullers to office workers, all united in their search for a cool respite from the scorching sun.
Fueled by the soaring temperatures, the variety of street beverages has exploded. Lemon reigns supreme, with vendors whipping up refreshing elixirs by combining ice, the tangy citrus, and powdered flavorings. These concoctions promise a temporary escape from the oppressive heat.
“We patrol outside all day,” said Akhtar Hossain, a policeman stationed near Baytul Mukarram. “Even inside the police van, it feels like an inferno. There’s no way we can survive without these drinks.” While some people have made their own beverages or saline solutions at home, the relentless heat has rendered them unappetizing.
Gazipur garment worker Md. Raihan trudged through the scorching sun alongside his mother on their journey to Paltan for personal errands, leaving them parched and weary. As they disembarked from their vehicle, the call of cool refreshment was impossible to resist.
“The heat is so intense, there’s no room for anything else in my mind,” Raihan confessed, gulping down a street beverage. “All I can think about is quenching this thirst. It’s a matter of survival.”
He continued, his voice laced with exasperation, “The dust outside is suffocating, and the heat…it’s unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. There’s no way to stay healthy except to pray for Allah’s mercy.”
However, these seemingly life-saving beverages might come at a hefty price for public health. The booming sales of street drinks are overshadowed by concerns about hygiene standards.
The repeated use of glasses without proper sanitation creates a breeding ground for contamination, potentially worsening the existing health woes.
Dr. Sarika Nuzhat, an assistant scientist at the Nutrition and Clinical Services Division of ICDDR, B, echoed these worries. She has observed a rise in diarrhea cases linked to the consumption of unhygienic street beverages.
“As the temperatures skyrocket,” she warned, “people become desperately dehydrated and seek any available source of hydration. They might be unaware of the dangers lurking beneath the surface; the unpurified water used in these drinks can have serious consequences.”
Renowned physician Professor Dr. ABM Abdullah echoed these concerns, emphasising the need for caution when indulging in street food and beverages amidst the blistering heatwave.
“The lack of assurance regarding the purity of water used in these concoctions renders them potential sources of illness, underscoring the importance of exercising vigilance and opting for safer alternatives,” he advised.
