Bangladesh experienced its hottest day of the season on Wednesday, with Rajshahi recording 40 degrees Celsius, the highest temperature so far this year. The capital Dhaka also saw its seasonal peak at 36.5 degrees Celsius. Except for light rain in Patuakhali’s Khepupara, the rest of the country remained dry. The ongoing heatwave, coupled with widespread power outages, has severely disrupted daily life across urban and rural areas.

According to the Meteorological Department, the heatwave has expanded from 14 districts on Tuesday to 24 districts on Wednesday, covering all of Rajshahi and Khulna divisions as well as parts of Dhaka, Tangail, Madaripur, Dinajpur, Rangamati, and Bandarban. Meteorologists warned that temperatures could exceed 42 degrees Celsius in the next two days before easing with possible rainfall from Saturday or Sunday. Experts attributed the rising heat to increased humidity and lack of rain.

The department’s long-term forecast suggests that while this year’s heatwave is intense, it is unlikely to persist as long as in 2023 and 2024, when continuous heat lasted 22 and 26 days respectively.