Schools and colleges are scheduled to reopen today (Sunday) after a seven-day closure due to the heatwave, but the situation has not improved.
Heatstroke deaths were reported on Saturday, while hospitals were struggling with a high number of heat-related cases.
On Saturday, Chuadanga district in western Bangladesh recorded a scorching 42.7 degrees Celsius -- the highest temperature in the country. Southwest Jashore, northwestern Rajshahi and Ishurdi followed closely, with readings of 41.5 degrees Celsius.
Dhaka's temperature remained above 38 degrees Celsius on Saturday, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD). But high humidity made it feel much hotter, exceeding 42 degrees Celsius.
"The discomfort may persist due to increasing moisture levels," meteorologists warned on Saturday in their daily forecast for the next 24 hours.
The BMD's latest forecast predicted the heatwave, although varying in intensity across regions, is likely to continue.
While the Met Office predicts little to no rain for most of the country in April, rural communities dependent on extensive manual labour face an additional burden: frequent power cuts due to soaring nationwide power demand.
Concerns also mounted over agricultural production, the poultry sector and fish farming hatcheries.
Rain was reported in Sylhet on Saturday, with up to 84mm recorded. The Met Office's daily bulletin forecasts rain or thunderstorms with temporary gusty or squally winds at one or two places in the Chattogram and Sylhet divisions in the next 24 hours.
There is a chance of hail in isolated areas. Elsewhere in the country, the weather is expected to remain mostly dry with partly cloudy skies. Schools resume with shortened classes, limited activities
Due to the ongoing heat wave, one-shift schools will run from 8:00 am to 11:30 am daily. Schools with two shifts will have the first shift run from 8:00 am to 9:30 am, and the second shift from 9:45 am to 11:30 am, according to the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education.
School assemblies will be suspended until the heatwave subsides.
The government previously closed all primary and secondary schools and colleges nationwide from April 21 to 27 due to the heat wave.
Two heatstroke deaths reported
Two people have died from suspected heatstroke, one in Munshiganj and another in Sylhet.
On Saturday at Munshirhat in Munshiganj Sadar Upazila, 27-year-old Sakhawat Hossain Mukul, a sales representative for RFL from Bajitpur Upazila in Kishoreganj, died.
Ferdous Hasan, a doctor on duty at Munshiganj General Hospital, confirmed Sakhawat was brought dead with symptoms of heatstroke.
A 50-year-old rickshaw puller, Abul Hashem from Sunamganj, died on Saturday morning in Sylhet city's Chauhatta area.
According to Md Moinuddin, officer-in-charge of Kotwali Police Station, Mr Hashem fainted and fell from his rickshaw around 11:00 am.
Dhaka chills under mist cannon
Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) launched an initiative on Saturday to spray water on roads and alleviate the heat in the city.
DNCC Mayor Atiqul Islam officially inaugurated the programme in Agargaon. The corporation will deploy 12 vehicles daily to spray water on city streets.
Two water cannons will target major roads, while ten water bowsers will cover secondary roads.
Chief Heat Officer Bushra Afreen reportedly advised the initiative.
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