Pry schools to stay shut June 5-8

All government primary schools across the country will remain closed for four days from today because of the ongoing heatwave.

The primary and mass education ministry issued a press release in this connection yesterday.

Mahbubur Rahman, public relations officer of the ministry, said the authorities of kindergartens can also follow the order if they wish.

Most parts of the country have been facing scorching heat since the last week of May. The temperature may not drop until June 9, said experts.

"There is no chance of significant rain in the heatwave-affected areas. There is a chance of rain after June 9," said Meteorologist Hafizur Rahman.

According to the morning bulletin of the Bangladesh Meteorological Department yesterday, a severe heatwave is sweeping over the districts of Rajshahi, Naogaon, Nilphamari and Dinajpur.

Meanwhile, a mild to moderate heatwave is sweeping over Dhaka, Mymensingh, Khulna and Barishal divisions and the rest parts of Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions and the districts of Moulvibazar, Chandpur and Noakhali.

It may continue for next five to six days, it read.

The country's highest temperature was recorded in Rajshahi at 41 degrees Celsius while in Dhaka it was 37.1 degrees Celsius.

With frequent load shedding, the suffering of people has immensely increased.

According to the BMD, when the daily maximum temperature goes past 36 degrees Celsius over a large area it is called a heatwave. Heatwave is classified into three categories based on temperature -- mild, moderate, and severe.

A mild heatwave is when the temperature is between 36 and 37.9 degrees Celsius, moderate between 38 degrees and 39.9 degrees Celsius, and a severe heatwave happens when the temperature is 40 degrees Celsius and above.