Rain from Wednesday could bring a little relief from searing heat

Scorching heat in the early days of autumn have left many panting in Dhaka and across Bangladesh.

As Dhaka sweltered, searing temperatures rose to 36.2 degrees Celsius in other parts of the country in the 24 hours to 9am on Sunday. The mercury fell slightly during the daytime, but it still left city residents struggling from the burning sunlight.

The heat is making things difficult for many working people. Shojib Hossain, a child who sells water in the capital’s Banglamotor area, was resting, curled up on the footpath.

Asked how he was faring, Shojib said: “It’s unbelievably hot. I’m using up the money I got by selling water to buy water to drink! I get tired running up and down the buses trying to hawk my water. My head starts to spin. That’s why I’m sitting like this.”

Md Abid Hossain, who sells tea on the footpath in the Karwan Bazar area, echoed the sentiment. “The heat is unbearable. I have a small table fan running all the time, but it’s still hot.”

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has forecast rain in different parts of the country on Monday, which could bring a little relief from the oppressive temperatures.

Meteorologist Shahanaj Sultana said on Sunday evening, “Some parts of the country will see rain on the 10^th, some on the 11^th or on the 12^th. There is still a good amount of rain in some places. The rain will increase from the 11^th.”

The BMD’s night bulletin on Sunday said that the well-marked low located in Rajasthan and its surrounding areas moved south-southwest and now lies over north Gujarat and its adjoining areas as a land depression, which became a land deep depression.

The axis of the monsoon trough runs through the land depression, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Bradesh, Bihar, West Bengal to Assam across the central part of Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, the monsoon is less active over Bangladesh and moderate over the north Bay of Bengal.

The forecast said many parts of the Rangpur, Mymensingh, and Sylhet divisions, and some parts of the Rajshahi, Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal, and Chattogram divisions will see temporary gusty winds and light to moderate rain or thundershowers. Parts of the country may also see moderate rain.

Day and nighttime temperatures may fall slightly in the Rangpur, Dhaka, Mymensingh, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions while remaining largely unchanged across the rest of the country.

The highest temperature recorded nationwide over the past 24 hours was 36°C in Lakshmipur’s Ramgati.

This means the Upazila was experiencing a mild heat wave.

The highest temperature in Dhaka was 34.2°C. The lowest temperature was in Bandarban at 22.8°C.

Sylhet saw the most rain over the past 24 hours with 79mm recorded in the district. Netrokona saw 76mm, Panchagarh’s Tentulia 54mm and Kishoreganj’s Nikli 45mm.