Mercury has shot past the 40-degree mark on the Celsius scale in six of the country’s eight divisions including Dhaka and Chattogram on the first day of a five-day heat wave forecast by the government weather office.

Dr Muhammad Abul Kalam Mallik, a weather specialist at the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, on Monday said temperatures crossed 40°C in the divisions of Dhaka, Chattogram, Rajshahi, Sylhet, Khulna and Barishal as well as in the districts of Rangpur and Nilphamari.

Monday’s maximum temperature of 40.2°C was recorded at Khepupara, Patuakhali. On the previous day, maximum 40°C temperature was recorded at Rangamati.

The highest temperature in the capital city on Monday was 37.6°C, up by 0.1°C from the previous day.