DHAKA: Bangladesh experienced its hottest April on record last month since weather records began in 1948, according to Muhammad Abul Kalam Mallik, a senior forecaster with the Bangladesh Meteorological Department.
Mallik stated, “This year, April was the hottest since 1948 in terms of both high temperatures and extensive coverage across the country.”
A relentless heatwave has gripped Bangladesh, leading to nationwide school closures, with temperatures not expected to ease until Thursday.
He mentioned that the 30-year average daily temperature for April, spanning from 1981 to 2010, stood at 33.2 degrees Celsius. However, this year, temperatures recorded across the country were two to eight degrees higher.
Moreover, Mallik noted the absence of the usual pre-monsoon thunderstorms in April, which typically provide relief from the heat.
“Normally, Bangladesh receives an average of 130.2 millimeters of rain in April. However, this April, we only received an average of one millimeter,” he explained.
Mallik also stated that the meteorological bureau was examining data to confirm whether this year’s April had set a record for the lowest rainfall.
—AFP/APP
