Bangladesh experienced its hottest April on record, with the country and much of the region still reeling from a suffocating heatwave. The weather bureau confirmed that last month was the hottest April since records began in 1948, with temperatures soaring well above average.
The punishing heatwave led the government to close schools across the country, affecting an estimated 32 million students. The heatwave covered around 80 percent of the country, with temperatures reaching up to 8 degrees higher than the average daily temperature for April.
The extreme heat has already claimed at least 11 lives due to heat stroke, prompting concerns about the well-being of the population. The absence of the usual pre-monsoon April thunderstorms, which help cool the nation ahead of summer, has worsened the severity of the heatwave.
Thousands of people gathered at mosques and open fields to pray for rain, as the lack of precipitation has made life unbearable for many. The heatwave is part of a larger trend of increasing temperatures in South and Southeast Asia, with countries like Myanmar, Vietnam, and India also experiencing record-breaking heat.
As the region braces for the upcoming monsoon season, concerns remain about the impact of climate change on weather patterns. The World Meteorological Organization has warned that Asia is warming faster than the global average, highlighting the urgent need for action to address the growing threat of extreme heatwaves.