Rangpur: Climate change has led to extraordinary weather conditions in the northern region, with temperatures fluctuating sharply between morning and afternoon during the ongoing winter season.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, experts have identified climate change as a key factor contributing to the drying up of rivers, declining groundwater levels, and unpredictable weather patterns, the long-term effects of which remain uncertain.
Noted Agriculturist Dr. MA Mazid, recipient of the Independence Award 2018 for food security, explained to BSS that the erratic weather trends are impacting various sectors, particularly agriculture, due to the unpredictability brought about by climate change. The average day and night temperatures have been shifting significantly over the years, leading to extreme cold in winter and extreme heat in summer.
The unilateral withdrawal of water from international rivers upstream is exacerbating the situation, causing rivers to dry up, negatively impacting agriculture, biodiversity, and the environment. Dr. Tuhin Wadud, environmentalist and director of Riverine People, highlighted that the Brahmaputra, Teesta, Dharla, and other rivers are suffering from reduced water flow and silt accumulation due to these practices amidst a changing climate.
Environmental concerns extend beyond agriculture, as Md Mamunur Rashid, a PhD Fellow at Haji Mohammad Danesh University of Science and Technology, noted the wide-ranging impacts of climate change on ecology, biodiversity, public health, and habitation. The region is experiencing increased rainfalls, floods, cyclones, droughts, and other extreme weather events.
Dr. Syed Samsuzzaman of the North Bengal Institute of Development Studies expressed grave concerns about the abnormal rate of riverbed silting, causing flash floods and erosion, thereby reducing cultivable land. He pointed out that the altered climatic patterns have disrupted traditional crop farming seasons, affecting agricultural production in the northern region and beyond.
Local residents have reported severe cold spells in the mornings over the past few weeks, with temperatures ranging from 7 to 12 degrees Celsius, improving significantly in the afternoons with temperatures rising between 22 and 28 degrees Celsius. Recent observations from the Rangpur Met Office indicate a slight improvement, with minimum temperatures between 9 and 12.5 degrees Celsius and maximum temperatures between 26.5 and 28 degrees Celsius.