19 districts sizzles in mild heatwave

A mild heatwave is sweeping through 19 districts, mostly in the north, of the country, the weather department said Friday.

The heatwave spell may continue in Rangpur, Dinajpur, Nilphamari, Gaibandha, Lalmonirhat, Thakurgaon, Kurigram, Panchagarh, Rajshahi, Sirajganj, Pabna, Bogura, Chapainawabganj, Naogaon, Joypurhat, Natore, Tangail, Sylhet and Chuadanga districts, reports UNB.

The highest temperature o Friday was recorded at 39 degrees Celsius in Rangpur's Sayedpur, while the minimum temperature was 24.6 degrees in Rajshahi's Badalgachhi.

Sylhet Thursday witnessed its hottest day in July in 66 years, at 38.9 degrees Celsius.

After receiving the highest rainfall in June in 64 years that triggered massive floods across the district, Sylhet is now reeling under an intense heat wave.

"Such a high temperature was last recorded in the district in July 1956. Wednesday, the temperature was recorded at 37.3 degrees. And it was recorded at 36.3 degrees Tuesday," Sayeed Ahmad Chowdhury, a senior meteorologist with the Sylhet met office, said.

However, a reprieve from the sweltering summer heat is on the way in parts of the country. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has predicted showers in the eight divisions in the next 24 hours.

Light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at many places over Chattogram division; at a few places over Dhaka, Mymensingh, Khulna, Barishal and Sylhet divisions and at one or two places over Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions, it said.

Moderately heavy showers are likely to occur at isolated places over the country.

"At the end of the next 72 hours, rainfall activity is likely to increase over the country," said Md Monwar Hossain, a meteorologist with the BMD.