UNB, Dhaka: After several days of heat wave, people heaved a sigh of relief as a nor’wester swept many parts of the country, including the capital, on Sunday evening. Officials at the Meteorology Department said the nor’wester entered Bangladesh from West Bengal of India through Rajshahi border around 4pm. The violent storm reached Dhaka through Kushtia and Faridpur around 6:30pm along with heavy rainfall and thunderstorm, giving the city dwellers a great relief from the scorching heat. With the mercury maintaining its upward trend for the last few days, the heat wave continued to sweep the country, making daily life miserable. According to the Meteorology Department, severe heat wave was sweeping Rajshahi and Jessore regions while mild to moderate heat wave the rest parts of Rajshahi and Khulna divisions and regions of Dhaka, Tangail, Faridpur, Madaripur, Gopalgonj, Rangamati, Chandpur, Noakhali, Sayedpur, Barisal and Patuakhali, and it still may continue. On Sunday, the highest temperature was recorded 40.6 degree Celsius in Rajshahi while 37 in the capital, the Met officials said. The situation is worse in rural areas, particularly in the northern regions of the country, as people have to spend more time on their paddy fields to harvest crops. Besides, day labourers and rickshaw-pullers in city areas were seen to continue their works with difficulties in the sultry weather. However, the city dwellers preferred to stay indoor today to pass the holiday marking the May Day. Meanwhile, more than 300 people have died of heat-related illness on April in several states of India, reports news agency AP. Besides, the scorching heat wave has been roasting some South Asian countries through much of April with temperatures reaching unprecedented levels, allowing at least three countries to set new all-time national heat records and several others to come very close.
