When the entire Bangladesh had been reeling under sweltering heatwave since the onset of the summer, rain lashed almost entire country for three consecutive days brings much needed respites from uncomfortable hot weather.
"Bangladesh including Khulna and Rajshahi division are witnessing rainfall with thunderstorms. We are predicting more rains may occur across the country, Tariful Newaz Kabir, meteorologist of Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) told this morning.
Referring to latest update data of BMD, he said the country will witness moderate to heavy rainfall with thundershower till next week.
The long awaited rainfall has brought great relief for the people, particularly working class segment of population including day laborers, the meteorologist said adding the longest spell of heatwave beaching all time record in the history of Bangladesh severely affected life and livelihoods of the working class people.
"Finally, we have got much needed relief from deadly heatwave ... analyzing different indexes of long-term weather, Bangladesh will not face extreme heatwave event like previous month of April which saw record-breaking heatwave 28 days, except only two days of the entire month did not witness heatwave," Kabir added.
"Severe heatwave is unlikely to sweep over the country . . . but moderate to light heatwave may prevail in southwestern and northwestern regions of the country from mid-May," Omar Faruq, meteorologist of Bangladesh Meteorological
Department(BMD), told on May 7.
He said the entire country may witness heavy to very heavy rainfall alongwith thunderstorms (locally known Kalboishaki) from May 7 and it will continue till May 14 meaning temperature will continue to fall during the period.
On April 26, Bangladesh set all-time heatwave record as the Met Office recorded 24 days of heatwave breaching previous 23 days of heatwave in 2019.
"Twenty-three days of heatwave were logged during two months of April and May in 2019, which were considered the prolonged heatwave in the history of the country. But the April alone crossed the grim milestone setting new record of heatwave days," BMD meteorologist Dr Abul Kalam Mallik said.
Explaining the three key indexes of hot weather - - heatwave, severe heatwave and very severe heatwave, the BMD meteorologist said, "We consider temperatures above 36 degrees Celsius for at least two consecutive days as heatwave while temperatures between 40 degrees and 42 degrees are severe heatwave and temperature of above 42 degree Celsius is very severe heatwave."
The weather expert said earlier, the western and northern regions -- Khulna, Rajshahi, Rangpur of Bangladesh are considered heatwave-prone areas. Some south-western parts of Barishal division and Dhaka division experienced heatwave, he continued.
"Since the 90s, days of heatwave have been increasing alarmingly in Bangladesh giving a clear signal that the country may face prolonged heatwave in future . . . Simultaneously heatwave is spreading across the country," Mallik added.
"Once, heatwave was confined in the western, northern and central parts of Bangladesh. But this year the entire country is witnessing heatwave. It means weather pattern in Bangladesh has changed drastically extending heatwave coverage areas with its intensity," he added.