Heatwave, power outages make life miserable

The country is currently experiencing a brutal heatwave accompanied by high levels of humidity, resulting in a near-paralysis of everyday activities.
Over the past few days, the scorching temperatures have significantly exacerbated the suffering of the populace, aggravated further by frequent power outages due to an inadequate energy supply.
A similar predicament is observed in the capital city, where residents can be seen perspiring profusely, seeking respite in juice outlets and from street vendors offering rechargeable fans.
“The weather is too hot to absorb. I feel dehydrated too often. That’s why I am drinking lemon juice with mint,” one Shamim Hossain, who came to visit a brokerage firm at Motijheel, said.
Failing to cope with the unbearable heat, many people, particularly school students, fell sick as reported in many places of the country, which forced the government to shut educational institutions across the country.
In a latest development, the government asked to shut all secondary schools and colleges across the country today (Thursday) due to the ongoing heatwave.
Earlier, the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education announced the closure of all government primary schools till tomorrow due to the same reason.
Excepting disruption of people movement, the heatwave coupled with frequent load-shedding made a severe blow to the businesses also as the supply of fishes declined significantly to the city’s markets.
The FE correspondent visiting several fish markets found that traders are reluctant in bringing fishes into the market because of the unavailability of ice bars to keep the fish fresh.
Talking to the FE, a fish trader at Rampura Market Rakib Hossain said they cannot get enough ice from the ice-making factories which are struggling to produce ice because of the frequent load shedding.
“That’s why, we brought very little volume of fishes and sold those out as quickly as possible and the supply shortage raises the prices of fishes,” he said.
According to Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), the ongoing heatwave will likely continue up to June 10 next but the temperature might drop in some places as a low-pressure area might develop over Southeast Bay and adjoining areas within the next 24 hours.
The BMD already advised the maritime ports to hoist Local Cautionary Signal no-Three.
Rain/thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty/squally wind is likely to occur at many places over Chattogram division and at one or two places over Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh, Khulna, Barishal and Sylhet divisions.
Severe heatwave is sweeping over the districts of Rajshahi, Pabna, Noagaon, Dinajpur, Jashore & Chuadanga.
Mild to moderate heatwave is sweeping over Dhaka & Mymensingh divisions and the rest parts of Rangpur, Rajshahi & Khulna divisions and the district of Sylhet and it may continue.
Day temperature may fall slightly and night temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country, according to the BMD forecast.
The highest temperature on Wednesday was recorded in Rajshahi with 41.5 degree Celsius while Dhaka’s highest temperature was 37.5 degree Celsius.

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