A mild to moderate heatwave is sweeping across the Khulna division and several districts, including Dhaka, Faridpur, Madaripur, Rajshahi, Pabna, Sirajganj, Feni, Laxmipur, Rangamati, Bandarban, and Patuakhali, and is expected to stay for a few days.
Meteorologist Md Shaheenul Islam of the Bangladesh Meteorological Department yesterday said the ongoing heatwave, affecting large parts of the country, is likely to persist today and may begin to ease from tomorrow.
According to the BMD, yesterday’s highest temperature was recorded at 37.3°C in Rajshahi, while Dhaka experienced a high of 37°C.
Shaheenul explained that temperatures between 36°C and 37.9°C are classified as a mild heatwave; 38°C to 39.9°C are moderate; 40°C to 41.9°C are severe; and temperatures above 42°C are a very severe heatwave.
The hot and humid weather is severely affecting residents. Low-income people, especially those living on footpaths or under open skies, are among the worst affected.
People who spend long hours outdoors are also struggling under the intense heat, particularly motorbike riders and passengers of vehicles without air conditioning.
Many individuals are experiencing health issues such as asthma, tonsillitis, and fever due to the extreme weather conditions.
“I felt nauseous in the morning and suffered from diarrhoea due to the intense heat, though it subsided after taking oral saline,” said Anowar Hossain, a resident of the capital’s West Razabazar.
He added that rainfall is essential to bring relief from the ongoing heatwave.
In Khulna, the heatwave continues to intensify, with Jashore recording the country’s highest temperature on Thursday.
The Met Office reported that Jashore recorded 38°C, followed by Khulna at 37.5°C and Mongla at 37.4°C. Temperatures in Chuadanga, Satkhira, and Kumarkhali hovered around 37°C, while Koyra recorded 36.8°C.
Meteorologists said the rising temperatures have significantly increased discomfort, making daily life increasingly difficult.
Day labourers and rickshaw pullers reported a sharp decline in income due to the extreme heat. Monsur, a rickshaw puller who travels from Tala in Satkhira to Khulna city, said, “I have been pulling a rickshaw for nearly a decade, but I have never experienced such extreme heat. After dropping a passenger, I need to rest under a tree before continuing. Sometimes I cannot find passengers, and my daily earnings have dropped.”
At a road construction site, around 30 to 35 women were seen working under the blazing sun. One of them, Ruksana Parvin, said they earn Tk 450 a day and rely on saline water to cope with dehydration.
Samriddhi Swasty, a ninth-grade student of Khulna Government Girls’ High School, said commuting to after-school coaching classes has become exhausting due to the heat.
Frequent power cuts have further worsened the situation. According to the West Zone Power Distribution Company Limited, at 1:00pm on Wednesday, power supply stood at 607 megawatts against a demand of 810 megawatts, resulting in a deficit of 203 megawatts.
A similar shortfall occurred later that evening, when demand reached 765 megawatts but supply was only 601 megawatts, leaving a gap of 164 megawatts.
Md Mizanur Rahman, in charge of the Khulna Meteorological Office, said the heatwave is likely to continue for the next few days. However, rainfall is expected today or tomorrow, which may bring some relief.
