Staff Correspondent

A severe heatwave increases significantly the risks for heat-related illnesses, particularly for those who work outside or participate in outdoor activities.

With a sweltering heatwave sweeping over Bangladesh for about three weeks, the incidents of heatstroke and subsequent deaths are rising across the country.

According to media reports, at least 17 people have reportedly died from heatstroke in the last five days in different districts of the country.

On Wednesday, three farmers died from heatstroke in the districts of Nilphamari and Chattogram.

In Nilphamari, two farmers reportedly died from heatstroke in Domar and Dimla upazilas respectively. The deceased were identified as Anarul Ahmen (52), and Abu Taleb (54).

In Domar upazila, Anarul fell ill while working on a field under the open sky at around 1:30pm. Later, locals rescued him and took him to the Domar Health Upazila Complex, where a doctor declared him dead.

In Dimla upazila, Abu Taleb felt sick while working on farmland. Later, locals took him to the nearby health complex, where the duty doctor pronounced him dead.

Meanwhile, a farmer died of heatstroke while working in the fields in Lohagara upazila of Chattogram the same day. The deceased farmer Samshul Alam (60) was the son of late Thanda Mia of West Chunti Hadur Pahar area of Chunti Union.

Earlier on Tuesday, at least five people reportedly died from heatstroke. The deceased were identified as Golam Rabbani (48) in Jamalpur’s Islampur upazila, Ramjan Ali (63) in Phulpur upazila of Mymensingh, Kamrul Islam (30) in the same district’s Bhaluka upazila, Mujibur Rahman (45) in Cumilla’s Burichang upazila, and Alamgir Shikder (56) in Dhaka’s Wari area.

On Monday, at least three people died from heatstroke in Dhaka, Chuadanga.

A 45-year-old rickshaw puller died reportedly from heatstroke near the Dhaka Medical Nursing College in Dhaka. He was identified as Abdul Awal, son of Azam Ali of Singhagram of Lakhai upazila in Sylhet.

Two more fatalities were recorded on the day due to the ongoing severe heatwave in the district of Chuadanga.

Both the deceased were residents of Beguarkhal village in Nagdah union of Alamdanga upazila. They were identified as Ashura Khatun (25), wife of Anwar Hossain, and Ayesha Begum (70), wife of late Akkas Ali.

On Sunday, three individuals in the districts of Meherpur, Narsingdi and Sylhet, reportedly died from heatstroke.

The deceased were identified as Shilpi Khatun in Meherpur’s Gangni upazila, Shafqat Jameel Iban in Madhavadi upazila of Narsingdi, and Abu Hanif in Sylhet’s akshin Surma upazila.

A day ago, three people died from heatstroke in Chuadanga, Gazipur and Pabna districts respectively.

The deceased were identified as Jakir Hossain (33) in Damurhuda upazila of Chuadanga, Sukumar Das (60) in Pabna sadar, and a mentally challenged young man Sohail Rana in Enayetpur area of Gazipur City Corporation.

The country’s highest temperature was recorded at 41.6 degrees Celsius in Mongla on Wednesday, while the day’s highest temperature in Dhaka city was recorded at 39.2 degrees Celsius, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD).