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Department (BMD).
Scattered showers were reported in Dhaka, Rangpur, Mymensingh, and Sylhet divisions yesterday afternoon.
The heatwave had spread to 24 districts last week, with temperatures fluctuating between 35°C and 40°C. Dhaka’s highest temperature during this period was 36.5°C, which dropped sharply once clouds and rain arrived.
Public life had become miserable due to the heat and load-shedding, making it difficult for farmers to work in fields.
“Relief has returned with the rain, but we are suffering losses due to hailstorms,” said farmer Nabin Chandra Das of Rangpur’s Mahiganj, adding that ripe paddy was damaged Saturday night.
The Met office forecast heavy rainfall in Rangpur, Sylhet and Mymensingh divisions, with moderate rain elsewhere, and nor’westers in Rajshahi, Rangpur, Mymensingh, Sylhet and Dhaka within 48 hours.
The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) issued a flash flood warning for Sylhet’s haor areas. The Department of Agriculture advised farmers to harvest Boro paddy quickly.
Our Sylhet correspondent reported farmers racing against time to harvest amid thunderstorms since Saturday evening.
On April 24, the Water Development Board in Sunamganj urged farmers to harvest as much paddy as possible before April 28, citing BMD forecasts of heavy rainfall.
The FFWC also warned that water levels in the Surma, Kushiyara, Bhugai, Kangsha, Dhanu and Baulai rivers may rise within three days and flow near danger levels.
12 KILLED
In Gaibandha, three people died in Dakshin Dhopadanga village, Sundarganj upazila, during a nor’wester. They were identified as Fuad Chowdhury, 33, Rafi Chowdhury, 12, and Mizanur Rahman, 20.
Gaibandha General Hospital RMO Asif-Ur-Rahman confirmed the deaths. Two others were also injured.
UP Chairman Md Mokhlesur Rahman Mondal said a cow nearby also died when the victims were struck while on a road near their house.
Another person, Manik Pramanik, 19, died at Phulchari upazila in the district while transporting corn in his horse cart. Manik’s horse also died in the incident, said Phulchari Police Station OC Durul Huda.
In Bogura, Suman Mia, 35, died after being struck by lightning while trying to bring his goat back from a field in Muchikhali village, Gabtali upazila, Gabtali Model Police Station OC Rakib Hossain said.
In Natore, farm labourer Md Samrat Mia, 26, of Sirajganj’s Nagardala village, died at Natore Sadar Hospital at 5:30pm while undergoing treatment for lightning injuries sustained in a field with over 20 others in the morning, Singra Police Station OC Rakibul Islam said.
In Panchagarh, tea worker Sarowardi, 21, was killed and two others, identied as Mostafa, 45, and Jaherul, 43, were injured in Atwari upazila’s Sonapatila village while returning home after plucking tea leaves.
Atwari Police Station OC Motiar Rahman confirmed the incident. Dhamor UP Chairman Abu Taher Md Dulal said Sarowardi had married only eight days ago.
In Thakurgaon, Selina Akhtar Laboni, 35, of Niamatpur village, was killed by lightning near a paddy field in Pirganj upazila in the afternoon, police said.
In Jamalpur, two people, identified as Hasmat Ali Hasu, 45, of Sadar upazila, and Marzina Begum, 22, of Melandah, died in separate incidents.
Hasmat was struck while returning home with cattle, said Sadar UNO Naznin Akhter. Three others -- Anwar Hossain, 34, Shawon, 25, and Sukhi, 14 -- were hospitalised after being injured in the same incident.
Homemaker Marzina was struck while preparing food in her courtyard; another woman, Shefali Begum, 28, was also injured, said Melandah Police Station OC Obaidur Rahman.
In Sirajganj, farmers Hossain Ali Sheikh, 25, of Raiganj upazila, and Abdul Hamid, 50, of Tarash upazila were killed in separate lightning strikes while working in their fields during a storm, police said.