HeatwaveSchools, colleges to remain shut for seven days

The government has decided to keep all primary, secondary schools, colleges and madrassas closed from April 21 to April 27 due to the heatwave sweeping over the country.

The decision was taken considering the health safety of the students going to the schools.

Mahbubur Rahman, public relation officer of the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education and a top official of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education, provided the information on Saturday.

All the government schools were supposed to reopen on Sunday after Eid and Pohela Boishakh holidays.

Earlier, the government directed to suspend daily assemblies at all its primary schools across the country until further notice due to the ongoing heatwave.

The Directorate of Primary and Mass Education issued a notification in this regard signed by Md Touhidul Islam, assistant director (Policy and Operations, Integrated Education), on Saturday.

Besides, the highest temperature of the country this year was recorded in Chuadanga at 41.3°C on Friday.

The district had also recorded the highest temperature across the country for the fourth straight day, according to Chuadanga Weather Observatory.

Adding to the woes of the people, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department on Friday said the ongoing heatwave is expected to continue for the next 72 hours.

It also issued a 72-hour heat alert nationwide as a heatwave is sweeping most parts of the country with intermittent rains and thundershowers in some places.

Similarly in June 2023, schools, colleges and madrassas were closed due to heatwave.