Amid an unrelenting heatwave, the third-highest temperature in Bangladesh’s history has been recorded in Chuadanga.

The mercury hit 43 degrees Celsius in the district on Monday, meteorologist Shahnaz Sultana said. 

Dhaka’s temperature was 40.5 degrees Celsius, the highest this season.

Previously, on Apr 17 last year, the third-highest temperature in the country's history was recorded at 43 degrees Celsius in Ishwardi, Pabna. The same temperature was also recorded in 1995 and 2002.

The highest recorded temperature since independence was 45.1 degrees Celsius on May 18, 1972.

Chuadanga also recorded the second-highest temperature at 43.2 degrees Celsius on May 21, 2014.

Chuadanga and Jashore have been recording “very severe” levels of temperatures for a long time this year. 

“This region has had high temperatures for many years because it is situated next to India’s Bihar and West Bengal, where temperatures soared to 44 degrees Celsius yesterday [Sunday]. That heatwave is affecting the region,” said meteorologist Omar Faruque.

This year the previous highest temperature recorded in Dhaka was 40.4 degrees Celsius on Apr 20. It was 40.6 degrees Celsius on Apr 16 last year.

The mercury soared to 42 degrees Celsius in Dhaka in April 1965 after reaching a record 42.3 degrees Celsius in 1960.

The current heatwave is ongoing for a record-extending 30 straight days and is likely to continue for several more days, meteorologist AKM Nazmul Haque said.

The heatwave persisted for 26 consecutive days from Apr 5-30 in 2014. In 2016, the heatwave continued for 25 consecutive days from April 6-30. In 2023, it went on for 23 consecutive days from Apr 13 to May 5.

There is a possibility of rain in many places in the north, northeastern and southeastern parts of the country, especially in Mymensingh, Sylhet, Chattogram and Barishal divisions on or after May 2. The ongoing heatwave in the regions will abate around that time. 

The ongoing heatwave will continue in western parts of the country, Khulna, Rajshahi, and Dhaka. 

Rainfall is likely in these areas around May 4 and 5, Nazmul said.