Heat wave kills 11 in Bangladesh

At least 11 people died of heat-stroke and more than 100 others have fallen sick in the recent heat wave, The Daily Star reported yesterday.

Four each died in Pabna and Manikganj, two in Bagerhat, and one in Satkhira districts on Monday. It was the hottest day of the season, with the mercury touching 43.4 degrees Celsius in southern Satkhira district.

The country's highest ever temperature of 45.1 degrees Celsius was recorded in the northern Rajshahi district on May 18, 1972.

The hot and humid day kept many people indoors in the capital yesterday. Rickshaw-pullers and vendors particularly, found it difficult to be on the streets.

Despite a forecast of heavy rain, there was no sign of it. The people's miseries were accentuated by frequent power outages in the capital, contributing to the shortage of water.

The heat wave is likely to continue for another four to five days, as the amount of rainfall would not increase before May 24, said a weather forecast yesterday.

An official said during the last three days, people were occasionally relieved because of gusty wind, followed by rainfall in the Chittagong division.

He, however, said people would not get complete respite from heat before the setting of monsoon in the first week of June.