The Bangladesh Meteorological Department issued a fresh heat alert for 72 hours on Thursday, forecasting that day temperatures may rise slightly amid the ongoing heatwave that has devastated lives in several parts of the country.
A very severe to severe heatwave is sweeping over parts of Bangladesh, including the Khulna division and the districts of Dinajpur, Nilphamari, Rajshahi, Pabna, Faridpur, and Gopalganj, according to the BMD report.
A mild to moderate heatwave is sweeping over Barishal division, the rest of Rangpur, Rajshahi, and Dhaka divisions, and the districts of Mymensingh, Moulvibazar, Rangamati, Chandpur, Noahkali, Feni, and Bandarban, and it may continue.
鈥楾he daytime temperature may rise slightly across聽 the country in the next three days,鈥� said Shahanaj Sultana, a meteorologist at BMD.
She said that there was a chance of rain after seven days, but only in the northeastern districts.
On Thursday, the country鈥檚 highest temperature was 42.4 degrees Celsius at Jashore. Chuadanga recorded 42.2C on the day.
Meteorologists consider temperatures over 42 degrees Celsius to be a condition for a very severe heatwave.
Temperatures between 40C and 42C, referred to as severe heatwaves, have been recorded in 11 districts 鈥� Kusthia, Tangail, Faridpur, Gopalganj, Pabna, Bagerhat, Khulna, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Rajshahi, and Satkhira.聽
聽鈥楾here is no chance of a fall in temperature in April,鈥� said meteorologist Muhammad Abul Kalam Mallik.
Citing various media reports, the non-government Foundation for Disaster Forum said that at least 45 people died from heatstroke symptoms between April 3 and April 24.聽
Most of the victims are aged between 50 and 70, the non-profit said in a statement on Thursday.聽
Most of the victims are farmers and working-class people, the NGO said.
The government, however, put the number of heatstroke victims much lower.
An official of the Directorate General of Health Services Control Room said four people have died of heat strokes so far, while three others have suffered illnesses.聽
抖阴精品 Staff Correspondent in Rajshahi reported that a traffic inspector died of heatstroke in Chapainawabganj on Thursday.
The deceased is Ruhul Amin, 42, son of Kirban Ali of Benapole municipality area in Jashore.
People from all walks of life, especially children and the elderly, were hit hard by the ongoing heatwave that began on April 11.聽
While the average number of daily patients in Bangladesh Shishu Hospital was between 700 and 800, Disaster Forum reported that currently, between 1,100 and 1,300 patients are taking treatment daily at the hospital鈥簊 outdoor facilities.
The number of diarrhoea patients at the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, was over 500 between April 20 and April 24, according to the hospital authority.
In normal times, between 300 and 350 diarrheal patients take treatment at the hospital.
Dhaka saw a 39.1C temperature on Thursday.
The streets of Dhaka have taken a deserted look in the afternoon as people are hardly out of their homes under the scorching sun.聽
Despite the fresh heat alert, officials at the education ministry said that they were planning to resume classes in schools, colleges, and madrassahs on April 28.
The authorities had earlier declared the schools and colleges shut until April 27 amid the ongoing heatwave.
The heatwave hit the country鈥檚 poultry business, and agriculture hard, prompting people in many parts of the country to arrange special prayers for rain.聽
