Published :
Updated :
For all latest news, follow The Financial Express Google News channel.
All secondary schools, colleges, madrasas and technical educational institutions in five districts including Dhaka will remain shut on Monday, according to the authorities, as the ongoing heat alert on Sunday was extended to Wednesday.
Apart from Dhaka, the other districts are Chuadanga, Jashore, Khulna and Rajshahi, the education ministry said in a notification.
After a seven-day heatwave closure, classes resumed on Sunday with curtailed hours and limited activities. However, the student turnout in Dhaka was low as many guardians waited for the weather conditions to be tolerable for sending their children to classes.
On the day, at least five heatstroke deaths, including two teachers, were reported across the country. The latest heat alert marked the fifth in April, while the nation had already passed a record stretch of hotter days this summer.
Due to the increased presence of moisture, heat discomfort may increase, said the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) in its daily forecast.
Dhaka reported the highest 39.0 degrees Celsius while the similar dry and humid weather situation may continue, the BMD said.
Similar or tougher weather conditions prevailed in most of the regions across the country on Sunday.
Two teachers reportedly died of heatstroke in Chattogram and Jashore.
A Madrasa teacher Mostak Ahmed Qutubi Alkaderi (55) fell unconscious on a ferry on his way to work from his home in Chandgaon area of Chattogram.
He was taken to Chattogram Medical College where he was declared dead by the duty doctors.
Ahsan Habib, an assistant teacher at Ahmedabad High School, died in Jashore Sadar Upazila.
A meat trader died from similar complications at Jatrabari area in the capital. He was identified as Md Selim Mia, 50.
He became sick and fainted while travelling by CNG run three-wheeler. He was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital where the attending doctor declared him dead at around 1:00 pm.
A freedom fighter named Sultan Uddin (78) died of a possible heatstroke in Narsingdi district court premises, sources said.
Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) distributed umbrellas among rickshaw pullers to help them protect from the scorching heat.
The initiative was a total of 30,000 umbrellas, oral saline and water distribution.
DNCC Mayor Atiqul Islam inaugurated the distribution in front of its headquarters in the city's Gulshan area.
Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Isa Bin Yusuf Al Duhailan, Algerian Ambassador Mohammad Zulqar Nain, and Pakistan High Commissioner to Bangladesh Syed Ahmed Maruf were present during the umbrella distribution programme.
State-owned Sonali Bank PLC started distributing 2,000 umbrellas among day labourers, especially rickshaw pullers to reduce their suffering from the current heatwave.
Chief Executive Officer of Sonali Bank PLC Md Afzal Karim inaugurated the activities under the Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) at Motihjeel, in front of the bank's head office on Sunday, according to a statement issued by the bank.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) distributed drinking water and oral saline among pedestrians and transport workers.
During the distribution program, BNP's international affairs committee Ishraq Hossain said the BNP always stands by the people.