The country continues to sizzle in extreme heat, with the district of Jashore hitting the season’s highest temperature of 42.6 degrees Celsius on Saturday.

The temperature in the capital also surpassed 40 degrees Celsius for the first time this year on the day, which is the second highest temperature in the city since 1960. The highest temperature in the capital during the past 64 years was recorded at 40.6 degrees Celsius last year on 24 April.

Other districts especially the districts under the divisions of Khulna, Rajshahi, and Rangpur, are experiencing unbearable hot weather.

Issuing a nationwide 72-hour heat alert from Saturday to Monday, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) said the extreme heat wave will continue across the country in the next few days.

The government, meanwhile, decided to keep close all the public and private schools – both primary and secondary – and colleges and madrasas from 21 April to 27, which were supposed to reopen today after holidays for Eid-ul-Fitr and Pahela Baishakh.

Considering the weather condition, the Supreme Court has exempted the lawyers in the Appellate and High Court divisions from mandatory wearing of black coats and gowns amid the scorching hot weather.

The BMD has predicted that the temperature may rise further in the next two or three days, with no prediction of rains.

According to the Met office forecast, the humidity could decrease slightly after some days, reducing discomfort of the people to some extent.

Kazi Jebunnesa, a meteorologist at the BMD, told the Daily Sun that there was no forecast of heavy rain in the next some days. But the feeling of heat, however, could reduce slightly after 24-25 April, she added.

Highest temperature in Jashore

Jashore recorded the season’s highest temperature in the country at 42.6 degree Celsius on Saturday.

The district recorded more than 40 degrees Celsius heat in the last three days, with 40.4 degrees Celsius on Thursday, 41 degrees Celsius on Friday, and 42.6 degrees Celsius Saturday, according to the local meteorological office.

The highest ever temperature for the district was recorded at 44.6 degree Celsius in 1964.

Meanwhile, Chuadanga continued to sizzle in extreme heat, with recording 42.3 degree Celsius on Saturday, second to Jashore. This temperature was the highest for the district this year.

Two die from heatstroke

Two people died from heat stroke in Chuadanga and Pabna districts respectively on Saturday amid the ongoing heat wave

The deceased were identified as Jakir Hossain, 33, son of Amir Hossain of Thakurpur village under Damurhuda upazila of Chuadanga and Sukumar Das, 60, a resident of Shalgaria Jakir Moar in Pabna district town.

Amir Hossain said his son Jakir went to a cropland to irrigate in in the morning. After around one hour, they came to know that Jakir fell sick due to the heat.

Later, he breathed his last on the way to Damurhuda Upazila Health Complex, said the father.

Meanwhile, Pabna General Hospital’s on-duty physician Dr Zahedul Islam said Sukumar suddenly fell sick amid the scorching heat while taking tea at a tea stall in the city’s Rupkotha Moar at noon.

Later, locals rushed him to the hospital where physicians declared him dead upon arrival, he said.

Schools closed for 7 days

The government on Saturday announced to keep shut all schools, colleges, and madrasas for a week considering the health safety of the students amid the severe heat wave that is sweeping over the country.

The decision came a day before the educational institutions were scheduled to reopen today after Eid-ul-Fitr and Pahela Baishakh holidays.

On Saturday, the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education asked to keep all government primary schools, Shishu Kalyan Trust schools, and Bureau of Non-Formal Education learning centres closed from 21 April to 27 April, said the ministry’s Senior Information Officer Mahbubur Rahman Tuhin.

Earlier in another notice, the ministry gave a directive to suspend the daily assembly at government primary schools across the country until further notice in the wake of the current heat wave condition.

Meanwhile, the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education said all the public and private educational institutions under the directorate would reopen on 28 April instead of 21 April due to the ongoing heat wave and heat alert issued by the BMD.

The Directorate of Madrasa Education echoed the same.

Moreover, all the classes of the colleges under the National University will remain suspended for 21-27 April due to the heat wave. However, the previously fixed exams of these institutions will continue during this time.

Lawyers get relief from gowns

The Supreme Court relaxed the obligation for lawyers of the Appellate and High Court divisions to wear black coats and gowns amid the severe heat wave.

Effective from today, this decision will remain effective until further instructions come from the apex court, said a circular signed by Md Golam Rabbani, Registrar General of the Supreme Court.

According to the Met office prediction, the heat wave condition would remain unchanged for the next five days.