After the sizzling heat and humidity over the last few days, people, particularly those fasting, heaved a sigh of relief with the mercury falling. There was heavy rain overnight at nearby Naogaon, with the maximum temperature being recorded there yesterday (Friday) at 32.7 degrees Celsius, down from Thursday's 37.8C, the highest maximum in the country.

While north-west temperatures cooled down, the south-west continued to suffer with a mild heat wave raging across Khulna (36C), Jessore (36.4C) and Satkhira (36.5C).

The reason behind the warm weather  in the south-west and elsewhere in the country was said to be the brewing of a low pressure in south-west Bay of Bengal, Ruhul Kuddus, a meteorologist at the Dhaka weather office, said yesterday.

It may ultimately intensify into a depression, he added, quoting the Indian Meteorological Department. In that case, it may add muscle to the south-west monsoon, unfolding slowly over the country.

The Bangladesh Met Office (BMD) said it may set over the country and help increase the rain and thundershowers in the next 72 hours. Signs of this have already started showing, with Naogaon recording a heavy overnight rainfall totaling 113mm till 6am yesterday.

There was rolling of thunderclouds over the capital, leaving only a paltry shower of 1mm till 6am yesterday. But it left the clouds behind, thus keeping the city’s maximum temperature at 34.3C, rising slightly from Thursday’s  34C. However, more rain is expected anytime, Kuddus said.