A mild heatwave continues to grip large parts of Bangladesh, affecting 40 districts, including the capital Dhaka, and causing significant discomfort for residents.
According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), the ongoing heatwave is impacting districts such as Dhaka, Narayanganj, Tangail, Faridpur, Gopalganj, Mymensingh, Chandpur and Lakshmipur, along with the divisions of Rangpur, Rajshahi, Khulna and Barishal. The weather office said the heatwave is likely to persist, with day and night temperatures expected to remain nearly unchanged over the next 24 hours.
The prolonged spell of hot weather, combined with a lack of significant rainfall in many areas, has disrupted daily life. Day labourers and low-income workers have been among the worst affected, as fewer people are venturing outdoors due to the extreme heat.
Meanwhile, the Met Office has forecast light to moderate rain or thunderstorms accompanied by gusty winds and lightning in parts of the Chattogram, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions, as well as isolated areas of Dhaka division. Moderately heavy rainfall may also occur in some locations within these regions.
The weather department said a western low-pressure trough extending from West Bengal to the northern Bay of Bengal is influencing current weather conditions. It also noted that the southwest monsoon could advance up to the Teknaf coast within the next 72 hours.
In the last 24 hours, the highest temperature in the country was recorded in Khulna at 38 degrees Celsius, while Cumilla received the highest rainfall, measuring 54 millimetres.