A scorching heat wave hit most parts of Bangladesh last month, with the country experiencing its hottest April on record, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department said on May 1.


According to the meteorological department, this year the heat wave covered around 80 percent of the country, and such an unbroken and expansive heat wave has never been seen before.

Dacca, Bangladesh - May 1, 2024

Storyline:
A scorching heat wave hit most parts of Bangladesh last month, with the country experiencing its hottest April on record, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department said on May 1.

According to the meteorological department, this year the heat wave covered around 80 percent of the country, and such an unbroken and expansive heat wave has never been seen before.

Since April, temperatures in Bangladesh have shot up nationwide, with daytime highs surpassing 40 degrees Celsius in most areas over the past two weeks. Due to the stifling heat, the country's education ministry has closed schools nationwide for two weeks starting from April 20, resulting in an estimated 32 million students staying at home to attend online classes.

April typically sees the highest temperatures of the year in the country, with temperatures rising continuously in recent years, the meteorological department said. This year, the April heat wave has been longer and hotter than in the past 59 years, due to global warming and climate change. Currently, the heat wave has shown no sign of easing.

Shotlist:
Dacca, Bangladesh - May 1, 2024:
1. Various of traffic, street lamp, sun in sky, pedestrians, street vendor;
2. Various of school signs;
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Suhama, Bangladeshi student (ending with shot 4):
"It's disgustingly hot in this temperature because we have never experienced this type of weather beforehand. In this situation, we should avoid the time period from 12 a.m. to 3 p.m., because that's the time when it's mostly hot."
4. Various of pedestrians;
5. Various of people drinking beverage, light pink beverage.

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