Exhausted in the searing summer heat, a rickshaw-puller drinks water to cool off in the city on Sunday. — FE photo 
Although the mercury calmed down a bit in Pabna, Chuadanga and Jashore on Sunday compared to the previous 24 hours, the ongoing heat wave remained in the 'very severe' category with the districts sweating under temperatures over 42 degrees Celsius.
"Very severe heatwave is sweeping Pabna, Jashore and Chuadanga districts and a severe heat wave is sweeping Dhaka and parts of Khulna divisions and Rajshahi district," the Meteorological Department said in a bulletin on Sunday.
The Met Office said almost the entire country is reeling under the first spell of severe heat wave since the first week of the current month and the ongoing heatwave will persist throughout the next month.
"...Bangladesh is likely to experience prolonged heat waves compared to the past couple of years," Shahnaz Sultana, a meteorologist of the Bangladesh Meteorologist Department (BMD), said.
The country's highest temperature was recorded at 42.2 degrees Celsius in Chuadanga on Sunday while Dhaka experienced the highest 38.2 degrees Celsius temperature, meteorologist Shahinul Islam said.
On Saturday, Dhaka's temperature crossed 40 degrees Celsius, while Jashore and Chuadanga reported 42.6 and 42.4 degrees Celsius respectively.
Responding to the crisis, Health Minister Samanta Lal Sen ordered the hospitals to prepare for a possible influx of heat-related ailments.
On Sunday, he discussed the issue with the civil surgeons and directors of government hospitals in a virtual meeting as blazing temperatures continued to affect people's lives and livelihoods.
At least three people died reportedly from heatstroke earlier in the day, taking the number of such fatalities to five in two days of record-breaking heat.
"Hot weather brings the risk of heatstroke. We've made guidelines for hospitals to manage these patients," Sen said in a media briefing after the meeting.
The season's highest temperature in the capital Dhaka was recorded at 40.4 degrees Celsius on Saturday and the country's highest temperature was recorded in Jashore at 42.6 degrees Celsius, which was also the season's high for the country.
The BMD issued a warning that the heat wave condition will remain unchanged for the five days commencing 9 am on Saturday (20 April).
Over 42 degrees Celsius temperature is considered a very severe heat wave while between 40-41.9 degrees Celsius is considered severe and 38 to 39.9 degrees Celsius is considered a moderate heat wave while 36 to 37.9 degrees Celsius is considered a mild heat wave in the country, according to the BMD.
"Intensity of heatwave may reduce for a very short time in some parts of Bangladesh if rainfall is likely with the impact of the northwest, " Shahnaz Sultana said adding, that the country may experience temperature fluctuations as some regions may experience slight rainfall at the end of the month.
Bangladesh may witness extreme heat waves as there is little chance of rainfall during the summer season, the BMD meteorologist forecasted.
The heatwave condition forced the authorities concerned to close all schools, madrasas and colleges till April 27.
Dhaka University authorities also announced to hold classes online due to the scorching heat.
The regular bulletin of the Met office on Sunday predicted rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty or squally wind at one or two places over Mymensingh, Sylhet and Chattogram divisions with hail at isolated places.
The weather may remain mainly dry with a temporary partly cloudy sky elsewhere over the country, it said.
A mild to moderate heat wave is sweeping Barishal division and parts of Rajshahi division and Mymensingh, Moulvibazar, Feni, Cox's Bazar, Chandpur and Rangamati districts and it may continue, the bulletin added.
Day temperature may rise by (1-2)°C over the Rangpur division and it may remain nearly unchanged elsewhere over the country.
Night temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country.
Due to the increase in moisture incursion, the discomfort may persist.
According to officials of different hospitals, lack of expected downpours lingers the nationwide heatwave, triggering an apparent health problem with an increased number of people reporting to hospitals with high fever, diarrhoea, pneumonia and sunstroke every day.
Hospitals in Dhaka are seeing a surge in patients from all over the country, presenting symptoms ranging from colds and coughs to fever and vomiting. Diarrhoea, headache, sore throat, and shortness of breath are among the more prevalent complaints among these individuals.
An average of 30 patients are being admitted per hour to the ICDDR,B in Mohakhali. By 2:00 pm Saturday, 274 individuals had been admitted for heat and diarrhoea-related complications, a decrease from the previous day's count of 456 admissions, said hospital officials.
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