The severe heatwave that largely affected the coastal Khulna and northern Rajshahi divisions over the last week spread to Dhaka division on Friday with forecasts of further rise in temperature today.
The day temperature reached 40C in Tangail at 3:00pm on Friday, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department said, while day temperatures in Faridpur and Gopalganj exceeded 39C.
Dhaka saw its day temperature rise by almost 2C to 38.4C on Friday, compared with the day before.
A severe heat wave occurs when day temperature stays between 40C and 42C.
Bangladesh’s highest temperature of 41.5C was recorded in Chuadanga, where a severe heatwave was sweeping for the fourth consecutive day on Friday.
The BMD said that a severe heatwave gripped the entire Khulna division and also the districts of Rajshahi and Pabna on Friday.
A mild to moderate heatwave, on the other hand, with temperatures ranging between 36C and 40C, was sweeping over Barishal division, rest of Dhaka and Rajshahi divisions and the districts of Chandpur and Moulvibazar.
Increased moisture incursion may worsen the feeling of heat and discomfort today, the BMD warned.
Continued exposure to excessive heat could result in heat stress which is the loss of human body’s capacity to regulate its internal temperature.
Physicians have advised people to stay indoors between 12:00 noon and 5:00pm and drink two to three litres of water a day.
But everybody cannot follow the advice. In cities and towns hundreds of homeless families live exposed to the scorching heat under the sun.
Heat radiated by metalled roads has made life unbearable for thousands of rickshaw pullers, who spend their day mostly under the open sky, not protected by any shade.
New Age correspondent in Rajshahi reported that the district witnessed the highest maximum temperature so far this season.
The daily maximum temperature in the district was recorded to be 41C at 3:00pm on Friday.
Local meteorologists warned that the heatwave might increase further in the coming days with a low possibility of a heavy rainfall in the district.
Meanwhile, the scorching heatwave is causing various health problems, including diarrhea, while mango and litchi buds are falling off in almost all areas due to lack of rainwater.
Last year, April 17 was the hottest day when the maximum day temperature was recorded at 43C in Pabna.
Power cuts have made life miserable, especially for farmers who need to irrigate their boro fields by lifting groundwater.
On Friday, load shedding peaked at 1:00am at 684MW with 13,434MW generated against the demand of 14,150MW.
The electricity demand has increased by more than 3,500MW since April 11, the day Eid-ul-Fitr was celebrated amid general holidays.
Power demand is expected to rise by another 4,000MW by this month.
