Heat alert issued for 4th time in April

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department issued a new heatwave warning on Thursday, forecasting searing temperatures to continue across the country for the next 72 hours.

This marked the fourth heat alert issued this month amid intense heat for more than a week.

The met office said the hot spell was affecting 45 districts with varying severity. Thursday's alert said mild to very severe heatwaves were sweeping the nation, likely persisting and causing discomfort due to high humidity.

While temperatures may not rise much in the coming three days, there will be little respite from the searing heat, report agencies.

However, meteorologists predicted rainfall across the country after this heatwave subsided. In a separate development on Thursday, the Ministry of Education announced the reopening of secondary schools and colleges nationwide on Sunday, previously closed due to the heatwave.

However, daily assemblies will remain suspended until the heat becomes more bearable. Besides, outdoor activities and those requiring sun exposure will be restricted at these institutions.

To compensate for educational losses caused by the extreme heat closures and other issues, the notice also mentioned that classes will be held on Saturdays until further notice.

On Thursday, a severe heatwave was affecting Khulna division, along with several districts including Dinajpur, Nilphamari, Rajshahi, Pabna, Faridpur, and Gopalganj, according to the met office.

Mild to moderate heatwaves were also reported in Barishal division and parts of Rangpur, Rajshahi and Dhaka divisions. Mymensingh, Moulvibazar, Rangamati, Chandpur, Noakhali, Feni and Bandarban districts were similarly affected. These conditions were expected to continue.

The weather forecast for the next 24 hours from Thursday morning predicted isolated rain or thunder showers with temporary gusty or squally winds, possibly accompanied by hailstorms, in one or two places over the Chattogram and Sylhet divisions.

A trough of low pressure currently sits over West Bengal and adjoining areas, influencing the regional weather patterns.

Reports from Khulna suggested that the healthcare crisis continued to escalate as the heatwave showed no signs of abating. Medical facilities urgently required additional resources and support to manage the overwhelming patient load.

Hospitals in Khulna were struggling to cope with an influx of patients.

Key healthcare facilities, including Khulna Medical College Hospital, Khulna Sadar Hospital, Khulna Children's Hospital, and Khulna Infectious Diseases Hospital, had reached full capacity. Patients were forced to occupy floors, corridors and even stairwells due to a lack of available beds.

The situation was particularly critical at the government-run Khulna Infectious Diseases Hospital in Mirerdanga, where the number of diarrhoea patients had seen an alarming rise.

With no paediatric specialists or consultants available, children suffering from diarrhoea were not receiving adequate medical care, alleged families.

On Thursday morning in Dhaka, a young man died of heatstroke. The deceased was identified as 45-year-old Sadequl Islam, hailed from Thakurgaon district.

Witnesses reported seeing Sadequl faint and die in front of the Bangladesh Bank in Motijheel area at around 9:00 am. He was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.