Scorching Heatwave Grips 40 Districts, Making Life Difficult

A prolonged heatwave continues to grip large parts of Bangladesh, with sweltering temperatures disrupting daily life in 40 districts, including the capital, Dhaka.

The absence of significant rainfall in many regions over recent days has intensified the heat, as relentless sunshine and rising temperatures create increasingly harsh conditions.

The extreme weather has hit day labourers and low-income earners particularly hard, with many reporting lower incomes as fewer people are venturing outside due to the heat.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) said on Tuesday morning that a mild heatwave is currently sweeping across 40 districts and is expected to continue.

Meanwhile, parts of four divisions may experience thunderstorms and rainfall, while heavy showers are forecast in three divisions.

According to the Met Office, the heatwave is affecting Dhaka, Narayanganj, Tangail, Faridpur, Gopalganj, Mymensingh, Chandpur and Lakshmipur districts, along with the Rangpur, Rajshahi, Khulna and Barishal divisions.

Both daytime and nighttime temperatures are likely to remain largely unchanged across the country over the next 24 hours.

The weather office said an extension of a western low-pressure trough extends from West Bengal to the northern Bay of Bengal.

As a result, light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by gusty winds and lightning may occur in parts of the Chattogram, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions, and at isolated locations in the Dhaka division.

Moderately heavy rainfall is also forecast in some areas of the Chattogram, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions. Elsewhere, weather conditions are expected to remain mainly dry with partly cloudy skies.

The Met Office further said that the southwest monsoon may advance up to the Teknaf coast within the next 72 hours.

Over the past 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.