A sudden spell of rain brought much-needed relief to Dhaka’s residents on Wednesday, the third day of the Bengali month of Boishakh, breaking through the sweltering heat.
Clouds began to gather around 2:45pm on Wednesday, and by 3:00pm, light drizzle had started, accompanied by a gentle breeze.
The intensity of the rainfall gradually increased, offering a welcome respite to those grappling with the intense heat.
By 5:21pm, light rain was still falling, allowing city dwellers a rare moment of comfort in an otherwise stifling afternoon.
Alongside the relief, the sudden downpour also caused inconvenience.
Rains likely in Dhaka, 7 other divisions
Commuters were caught off guard, with many stepping off buses only to get drenched due to a lack of umbrellas or raincoats. Even with the relatively light rainfall, waterlogging on certain roads posed difficulties for pedestrians.
Zahidur Rahman, a private bank employee, had taken shelter near a tea stall under the Mouchak Flyover. He sipped on tea as light rain continued to spray around him.
"Since I wasn't prepared for rain, I ended up getting soaked as soon as I left the office," he said. "With all the digging on the roadside, dirty water has accumulated and is mixing with sewage. It's disgusting when it splashes on you."
He also expressed frustration at the unavailability of rickshaws and the difficulty of walking home due to waterlogged streets.
An elderly BRTC bus passenger, preparing to disembark at the Mirpur Chinese area, requested the driver to stop near a roadside shelter. He was concerned that a sudden soak in the rain could make him ill.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department had earlier forecast temporary gusty winds, thunderstorms, and rain – possibly with hail – in parts of Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions, and isolated areas of Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Khulna, Barisal and Chattogram divisions.
While the rainfall brought temporary relief, the episode once again highlighted Dhaka’s poor drainage infrastructure and the struggles of its residents during seasonal changes.