Muyabia Labony ; Dhaka: A deadly combination of mild heatwaves and isolated thunder-showers accompanied by lightning strikes claimed at least 10 lives across various districts in Bangladesh on Friday. Meanwhile, sweltering humidity and rising temperatures continued to cause severe discomfort to public life in the capital and other regions.
According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), a mild heatwave swept over 13 districts on Friday. The highest temperature in the country was recorded at 37 Degree Celcious in Mongla (Bagerhat) and Ramgati (Lakshmipur). Additionally, temperatures hit 37 Degree Celcious in Rajshahi, 36 Degree Celcious in Satkhira, 36.7 Degree Celcious in Patuakhali, 36.6 Degree Celciousin Jessore, Feni, and Bandarban, 36.5 Degree Celcious in Noakhali, and 36.2 Degree Celcious in Madaripur and Gopalganj.
The capital city, Dhaka, also felt the brunt of the suffocating heat. Despite a cloudy sky since morning, parts of Dhaka received brief rainfall in the afternoon. The BMD recorded 8 mm of rainfall in Dhaka, but it brought no relief from the mugginess. Dhaka’s maximum temperature rose to 34.7 Degree Celcious on Friday from Thursday’s 34 Degree Celcious.
BMD Meteorologist Md. Omar Faruq explained that high humidity in the air is responsible for the intense, sticky heat. “This situation may persist for the next four to five days. However, temperatures are expected to start falling after next Thursday,” he said.
He added that rain or thundershowers are likely in almost all divisions over the next two days, with nearly 75% of areas in Rangpur, Mymensingh, and Sylhet divisions expected to receive rainfall. As the frequency of lightning strikes is on the rise, the weather office advised people to remain cautious, especially those in open fields, near water bodies, or elevated places.
Tragedy struck several districts on Friday as lightning and related accidents killed 10 people. In Shibganj, Chapainawabganj, a farmer named Md. Malek (40) died while harvesting paddy. In Fulbaria, Mymensingh, another farmer, Idris Ali Fakir (65), was killed while bringing cattle from a field. A 5th-grade student, Md. Yamin (11), lost his life in Lalmohan, Bhola.
Other casualties included tea worker Swapan Munda (23) in Kamalganj and farmer Taleb Mia (40) in Rajnagar of Moulvibazar, Solaiman Mia (22) in Atpara, Netrokona, and Faysal Bepari (35) in Bhedarganj, Shariatpur. Furthermore, two youths—Hridoy Hossain (22) and Ashraf Ali (27)—died of electrocution in separate incidents under Alamdanga upazila of Chuadanga amid the stormy weather.
While the first half of May saw regular rainfall and tolerable temperatures, the weather took a turn over the past five days as rain decreased and sunlight intensified. This marked the season’s latest heatwave, which began last Wednesday.