Ifaz Saad ; Dhaka – A fresh heatwave has hit the capital city for the first time this month on Wednesday, aggravating public discomfort with oppressive, humid conditions.
Since the start of this year’s summer season, the capital has experienced only a handful of heatwave days.
However, the sudden return of scorching weather has severely affected city life, with outdoor day laborers and commuters bearing the brunt of the blistering heat.
Meteorologists attribute this extreme discomfort primarily to a sharp and unusual increase in nighttime temperatures.
Last night, the capital’s minimum temperature shot up to a staggering 6 degrees Celsius above the seasonal normal, directly amplifying the heat intensity during the day.
Experts warn that this stifling condition is likely to persist for at least another two days.
A mild heatwave is currently sweeping over Dhaka and six other districts across the country. On Wednesday, Dhaka recorded a maximum temperature of 36.2 degrees Celsius.
According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), a heatwave is classified as mild when temperatures hover between 36°C and 37.9°C.
Apart from Dhaka, the other districts experiencing the heatwave include Bagerhat at 37°C (the highest temperature in the country on Wednesday), Jessore at 36.8°C, Satkhira at 36.4°C, Khulna at 36.2°C, and both Pabna and Rajshahi at 36.3°C.
BMD meteorologist Muhammad Abul Kalam Mallik explained that the primary trigger behind the intense feeling of heat in Dhaka is the abnormal rise in the minimum (nighttime) temperature, which was recorded at 28.9 degrees Celsius.
“The capital’s minimum temperature is 6 degrees Celsius higher than normal. This unusual nighttime warmth is the core reason behind the excessive heat during the day. A daytime temperature of 36 degrees Celsius is not extraordinary for Dhaka at this time of the year, but it feels significantly hotter because the environment did not cool down overnight.”
— Muhammad Abul Kalam Mallik, Meteorologist, BMD
While May is historically one of the hottest months of the year, frequent rainfall since the beginning of the month had kept conditions relatively tolerable until now.
Although parts of the country have been experiencing a heatwave for the last four days, it marked the first spell for the capital this month.
According to weather officials, the sweltering heat and isolated heatwaves are expected to continue for at least the next two days.
However, despite the overarching heatwave, some regions are experiencing relief.
The BMD noted that rainfall occurred in several areas of Mymensingh and Tangail on Wednesday.
There remains a slight possibility of scattered, light rain in Dhaka, though it may not be enough to bring immediate relief.