Bangladesh resumes classes in spite of a heat advisory.
Bangladesh resumes classes in spite of a heat advisory.
Dhaka: Despite a persistent heatwave that caused a statewide order for classroom closures last weekend, millions of students in Bangladesh returned to their reopened schools on Sunday, April 28.
Over the previous week, Dhaka's average maximum temperature has been 4 to 5 degrees Celsius higher than the 30-year norm for the same period, and more days of hot weather are predicted.
Numerous scientific studies have revealed that heat waves are getting longer, more frequent, and more powerful due to climate change.
Bangladesh follows the Sunday-Thursday Islamic work week, so when schools resumed, worried relatives escorted their kids to the school gates.
"I brought my 13 year-old daughter to school. That her school was open made her joyful. However, I was anxious," said Lucky Begum, whose daughter attends a Dhaka state school.
She said to AFP, "The heat is too much." "She started to sweat and suffered heat rashes already. I'm hoping she stays well."
Bangladesh follows the Sunday-Thursday Islamic work week, so when schools resumed, worried relatives escorted their kids to the school gates.
"I brought my 13 year-old daughter to school. That her school was open made her joyful. However, I was anxious," said Lucky Begum, whose daughter attends a Dhaka state school.
She said to AFP, "The heat is too much." "She started to sweat and suffered heat rashes already. I'm hoping she stays well."
Save the Children said in a statement this week that the school closure kept about 32 million youngsters at home.
Preschools will stay closed while primary school hours would be curtailed, according to an order from education authorities announcing the start of courses.
The heatwave is expected to last for at least the next three days, according to Bangladesh's weather agency on Sunday.
Rain after Thursday is expected to provide some relief, according to meteorologist Kazi Jebunnesa.
Muhammad Abul Kalam Mallik, another meteorologist with the weather service, told AFP that Bangladesh had not had a heatwave that strong since records first kept in 1948.
About three-quarters of the country was affected by the scorching temperatures, he said, adding that "it is a record as far as the duration and the coverage area in the country are concerned."
The heatwave is expected to last for at least the next three days, according to Bangladesh's weather agency on Sunday.
Rain after Thursday is expected to provide some relief, according to meteorologist Kazi Jebunnesa.
Muhammad Abul Kalam Mallik, another meteorologist with the weather service, told AFP that Bangladesh had not had a heatwave that strong since records first kept in 1948.
About three-quarters of the country was affected by the scorching temperatures, he said, adding that "it is a record as far as the duration and the coverage area in the country are concerned."
Mallik said climate change and man-made causes including rapid urbanisation, forest clearance, shrinking water bodies and increased usage of air conditioning were to blame.
"The trouble is, we will see more such severe heatwaves in the future," he said.
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