Dhaka: The entire country continued to reel under scorching heat as the mercury shot up to 40.6 degrees Celsius on Saturday making it one of the hottest days of this year.

Meteorologist of Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) Fazlur Rashid told BSS that the country will get no respite from the hot weather because heat wave is likely to sweep over it during next few days.

He said today’s highest temperature 40.6 degrees Celsius was recorded at Rajshahi while 37.22 degrees Celsius in the capital.

Abnormally hot weather can be attributed to the absence of pre-Monsoon rains that commence in April, he said adding maximum temperatures in most parts of the country were recorded 4 to five degrees Celsius above than normal.

Fazlur said, “We expect rainfall is likely to occur in the country at the end of this week.”

The people have been advised to stay indoors during the day as much as possible, drink plenty of water, use an umbrella for shade and keep their heads and bodies covered to avoid sunstroke.

The searing heat intensified across the country with the mercury maintaining its upward trend. High daytime and night-time temperatures, high humidity, warm sunshine and a lack of winds are making lives miserable, especially of those who have to work under the blazing sun or live in non-air-conditioned houses.

Situation is even worse in rural areas, particularly in northern parts of the country, as people have to spend more time in their farmland during the blistering heat.

Roads, market places and busy places in both rural and urban areas were deserted as people preferred to remain indoors to avoid the scorching heat.

In Dhaka city, day labourers were seen facing difficulties to continue their works and had to take breaks frequently.

City dwellers now prefer to rush to their houses soon after completing their daily works. But it was a day for the vendors and shops to make brisk business selling sugarcane and other fruit juice and cold drinks and coconuts.

Severe heat wave is sweeping over Rajshahi and Kushtia regions, a Met Officer weather bulletin said today. Mild to moderate heat wave is sweeping over Barisal, remaining parts of Rajshahi and Khulna divisions and the regions of Dhaka, Tangail, Faridpur, Madaripur, Gopalgonj, Rangamati, Chandpur, Noakhali, Dinajpur and Sayedpur and it may continue.

Day and night temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country.