Hamidul Islam, a salesman at a private company, was delivering goods in the scorching noon heat at Karwan Bazar on Thursday when he suddenly felt dizzy and collapsed in front of a shop. The shopkeepers quickly came to his aid, pouring water on his head and fanning him.
After regaining consciousness for a while later, he said that he had been feeling unwell due to the heat but ignored it because of work. Eventually, he became dizzy and fainted.
Hamidul is not alone. Many people like him are struggling in the intense and mild heat. Those who work outdoors-especially rickshaw pullers in Dhaka and farmers in various districts-are facing even greater hardship. Besides, heat-related illnesses are on the rise, prompting many to seek treatment at hospitals.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) reported that a severe heatwave is sweeping across the Jashore district, while a mild heat wave is affecting 20 districts, including Khunna division and Dhaka.
This information was disclosed in a weather forecast signed by BMD meteorologist AKM Nazmul Haque on Thursday.
According to the forecast, within the next 24 hours, one or two places in the Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions may experience temporary gusty winds accompanied by lightning and rain or thunderstorms.
Isolated hailstorms may also occur in some areas. Elsewhere in the country, the weather is expected to remain mainly dry with partially cloudy skies.
The BMD further stated that a severe heat wave is currently passing over Rajshahi district. Mild to moderate heatwaves are also affecting the rest of Rajshahi, Jashore, Khulna divisions, and districts including Dhaka, Tangail, Faridpur, Madaripur, Dinajpur, Brahmanbaria, Lakshmipur, Rangamati, and Bandarban, and this condition may persist. Daytime temperatures across the country are expected to remain nearly unchanged, while night-time temperatures may rise slightly.
From 9am Friday for the next 24 hours, temporary gusty winds with lightning and rain or thunderstorms may occur at isolated places in Rangpur, Mymensingh, and Sylhet divisions.
Elsewhere, the weather is likely to stay mostly dry with partly cloudy skies. Both day and night temperatures are expected to remain largely unchanged, and the ongoing heatwave may continue.
From 9am Saturday for the following 24 hours, isolated areas in Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh, and Sylhet divisions may experience similar weather conditions, including gusty winds, lightning, and thunderstorms.
Elsewhere, the weather will remain mainly dry with partly cloudy skies. Daytime temperature may decrease slightly, while nighttime temperatures are expected to remain nearly unchanged.
