Heatwave: New ‘heat alert’ issued, how long will Bangladesh continue to be so hot?

“I have never seen heat like this before. When you go in the sun, you feel like your skin is getting burnt”, said Mohammad Mithun, a rickshaw puller in Dhaka, to BBC Bangla.

Twenty-seven-year-old Mr. Mithun has been driving a rickshaw for over five years. He said that his daily income has almost halved due to the heat.

“How to stay income? As soon as you pull the cover, your throat and chest become dry. Even after drinking water, it seems that the thirst does not go away”, said Mr. to BBC Bangla. meet up

Heat wave is now flowing over more than 45 districts of Bangladesh including Dhaka. At the same time, the average day temperature has increased by a few degrees, the Meteorological Department said. As a result, people’s life has been disturbed all over the country due to intense heat.

In this situation, the Meteorological Department has again issued a 72-hour ‘heat alert’ or heatwave warning on Monday.

Due to intense heat, the government has already announced a seven-day holiday in schools and colleges. Besides, it is known that various universities have decided to conduct classes online.

Besides, several people have died due to various physical problems including heat stroke in summer.

But what is the reason for reading so hot this year? How long will the current heat wave last?

The Meteorological Department has again issued a ‘heat alert’ or heatwave warning for three days across the country as the temperature is not likely to drop.

In this month, ‘heat alert’ was issued for the third consecutive time.

It has been reported that day and night temperatures may rise across the country during this time.

“At this time there will be excess of water vapor in the air. As a result, the discomfort of heat may increase a bit”, meteorologist Bajlur Rashid told BBC Bangla.

From the first week of this month, heat wave started in some districts of Bangladesh. Then in the last two weeks heat wave has spread almost all over the country.

In this, severe heat waves are seen flowing over several districts in the southwestern part of the country. Jessore has already recorded the highest temperature this year at 42.6 degrees Celsius.

Besides, a temperature of 42.2 degrees Celsius was recorded in Chuadanga on Sunday. And the highest temperature recorded in Dhaka this year is 40.4 degrees Celsius.

In Bangladesh, a warning is usually issued when the temperature exceeds 36 degrees Celsius.

“When there is a heatwave over a large area, such warnings are issued,” meteorologist Muhammad Abul Kalam Mallick told the BBC.

In this case, if the air temperature is less than 36 to 38 degrees Celsius, it is called a mild heat wave by meteorologists.

Also, if the temperature is between 38 and 40 degrees Celsius, it is called moderate and between 40 and 42 degrees Celsius, it is called severe heat wave.

And if the temperature rises above 42 degrees Celsius, then it is called extreme heat wave.

In the last two weeks Jessore and Chuadanga districts have witnessed extreme heat waves.

And now, a very intense heat wave is flowing over Pabna and Chuadanga, said the Meteorological Department.

And intense heat waves are reported in Rajshahi, Tangail, Jessore and Kushtia.

Apart from this, mild to moderate heat waves are flowing over several other districts including Dhaka, Rajshahi, Moulvibazar, Chandpur, Rangpur, Mymensingh, Khulna and Barisal, the Meteorological Department said.

Meteorologists say that almost every year, Bangladesh experiences two to three mild to moderate heatwaves and one to two severe to extreme heatwaves in April.

But this year three heat alerts have already been issued due to severe heat wave. Meteorologists believe that a new heat alert may have to be issued in the last week of April.

“Fact: Day temperature has increased by two to three degrees Celsius across the country”, meteorologist Shah Alam told BBC Bangla.

He said that the average temperature in Bangladesh in April is 36 degrees Celsius. But this year it has increased to an average temperature of around 38 degrees Celsius.

“Because of this, intense heat is felt throughout the country”, said Mr. to BBC Bangla. Alam

Besides, they fear that the duration of this year’s heat wave will exceed the previous years.

“Average temperatures are likely to rise further ahead. It could even be the hottest year in Bangladesh if the heat wave continues”, meteorologist Shah Alam told BBC Bangla.

Earlier, meteorologists had described the year 2023 as the hottest year in Bangladesh.

That year, the heat wave lasted for three consecutive weeks on record.

Meteorologists say that the average temperature has increased in April this year in Bangladesh due to insufficient rainfall.

“The difference in day and night temperature is decreasing due to lack of rainfall. As a result, it’s getting hot,” meteorologist Hafizur Rahman told BBC Bangla.

He further said, “Heavy rains will bring down the heat.”

But when the heavy rainfall can begin?

“There is no chance of heavy rainfall in the near term,” meteorologist Shah Alam told BBC Bengal.

Basically, he said that there is no rainfall due to monsoon wind not coming from the Bay of Bengal.

“Monsoon is delayed this year. So we may have to wait till June for heavy rainfall”, said Mr. Alam

However, by next Friday, there may be light gusts of wind and rain in some parts of the country, said the Meteorological Department.

However, since the amount is less, the rainfall will not be of much use in reducing the heat, said meteorologists.

Meteorologists said that the heat wave will not stop soon this year due to the delay in the onset of rains.

“More heat waves are coming and will continue throughout the month of May,” meteorologist Shah Alam told BBC Bengal.

Apart from this, meteorologists fear that this year’s heat wave may increase due to the delay in arrival of monsoon.

“Even the duration of the heat wave may exceed the previous years”, said Mr. Alam

Bangladesh Meteorological Department has also recorded that the heat wave lasted for a maximum of 23 days.

However, if the heat wave is prolonged, the possibility of rainfall will also increase, according to meteorologists.

“If the heat wave continues for a long time, the air pressure in some areas will drop,” meteorologist Muhammad Abul Kalam Mallick told BBC Bengal.

“When the air pressure decreases, the water vapor from the ocean starts collecting somewhere in the air and then thunderclouds form there. Later that cloud caused rain”, said Mr. Malik.

Looking at the forecast of Bangladesh Meteorological Department for the last few days, it can be seen that high temperature is prevailing in the north-western districts of Bangladesh.

According to meteorologists, the location of Indian states such as West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, etc. is towards that region of Bangladesh.

But the temperature in these provinces is very high. The temperature in these places fluctuates between 42 and 48 degrees Celsius during this time of the year.

Dr. Mallick said that last year the maximum temperature in those parts of India was 52 degree Celsius.

“Since they are hot regions, the hot air from there enters into Bangladesh through Chuadanga, Jessore, Kushtia, Rajshahi and it warms our temperature.”

Due to the movement of this intercontinental air and the increase in temperature at the local level, Dr. thinks that the heat wave may be relatively high this year. Malik.

“Analyzing the characteristics of past years, it appears that 2024 will go down as a hot year. We are going to have more heat wave days and rates this year”, he said.

“The reason for this is climate change. The rise in temperature in Bangladesh has been affected by global warming”, commented Dr. Mallick.

Apart from this, meteorologists say that the overall temperature is increasing due to the decrease in the amount of forest land, the decrease in the underground water level and the increase in industrialization and urbanization.