Severe heatwave disrupts public life in Bangladesh

As the sun blazed down on Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh recorded its highest temperature of the season at a scorching 40.1 degrees Celsius on Saturday, plunging residents into the grip of a severe heat wave.

As the sun blazed down on Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh recorded its highest temperature of the season at a scorching 40.1 degrees Celsius on Saturday, plunging residents into the grip of a severe heat wave.

Across Bangladesh, Chuadanga sizzled at 42 degrees Celsius, marking the nation’s peak, as Bangladesh battles a relentless surge in temperatures that shows no immediate sign of cooling.

For three days, a heat wave has swept the nation, varying from mild to severe.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department classifies 38–39.9 degrees as a moderate heat wave, while 40–42 degrees signals severe conditions.

On Friday, Chuadanga hit 41.2 degrees, and Dhaka reached 39.2, but Saturday’s spike pushed the capital into uncharted territory for 2025.

“It’s like walking into an oven,” said rickshaw puller Md Rubel, wiping sweat from his brow in Dhaka’s Gulshan area. “There’s no escaping it.”

Meteorologist Md Shahinul Islam warned that the heat may persist into Sunday, with daytime temperatures holding steady and nighttime readings creeping higher.

Yet, a glimmer of relief looms: rain or thunderstorms with gusty winds are possible in Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh, and Sylhet divisions. “Sunday could bring some respite, but the heat wave isn’t over,” Islam told reporters Saturday afternoon.

The unrelenting heat has disrupted daily life. Street vendors like Ayesha Begum, who sells vegetables in Mohammadpur, reported wilting produce and fewer customers.

“People don’t want to leave their homes,” she said, fanning herself with a newspaper.

Schools remain open, but parents like Fatima Rahman worry about children enduring sweltering classrooms. “My daughter comes home exhausted, drenched in sweat,” she said. “It’s not healthy.”

Friday’s forecast had already raised alarms, with the Meteorological Office predicting severe heat waves in parts of the country within 72 hours.

Chuadanga, a perennial hotspot, has borne the brunt, but Dhaka’s urban sprawl traps heat, making shaded alleys feel like furnaces. Power outages in some areas have compounded the misery, leaving fans idle and tempers frayed.

For Dhaka’s millions, adaptation is key. Roadside tea stalls offer cold water and shade, while families flock to air-conditioned malls for relief. Yet, for labourers and low-income communities, options are scarce.

“We work under the sun because we have to,” said construction worker Kamal Hossain. “No heat wave stops hunger.”

As Bangladesh braces for another blistering day, the promise of rain offers cautious hope. But with temperatures soaring and urban life straining under the heat’s weight, Dhaka’s residents are left to endure, adapt, and pray for cooler days ahead.