Heavy rain is falling in the three coastal divisions of Chattogram, Khulna and Barishal. After several days, the capital had some rain on Tuesday, and since dawn on Wednesday there has been intermittent rain. This has caused misery for people going home for Eid, as well as for buyers and sellers at cattle markets.

The rain began at dawn on Wednesday (28 June) and gradually grew heavier as the morning went on, before easing after 8am. Dhaka recorded 15 mm of rain in the previous 24 hours. The sky over Dhaka may stay cloudy, at times overcast.

Many people were still leaving Dhaka for their villages on Wednesday to spend Eid with family, but ran into rain as soon as they left home. Many were seen soaked, waiting by the roadside for buses. Some paid higher fares for CNG autorickshaws to reach bus, train or launch terminals.

Belayet Hossain, bound for Chattogram, was waiting with his family for a bus at Banasree. He told Jagonews24: "I had some work, so I am going home a bit late. I have a bus ticket, but the bus is late because of traffic, and now the rain has added to it. There is little space at the counter and many people are waiting, so I have to stand outside in the rain."

On the last day of the Eid journey, passenger numbers rose at Kamalapur railway station. Demand for standing tickets on intercity trains was high from the morning, and commuter trains were also crowded. Passengers came to the station despite the morning rain and bad weather, and many suffered because of it.

Shahriar Alam, who came from Malibagh, told Jagonews24: "Just as I was leaving for the station in the morning, the rain started. I could not find a CNG in the rain. In the end I paid double fare to get to the station by CNG."

Mominul Mondal, who came from Rajarbagh, said: "I had to come to the station soaked. I am going to spend Eid with my family in the village. If I miss the train, it will be hard to get home, so I came out in the rain so as not to miss it."

A woman named Naznin Begum said: "I am going to the village with my family for Eid. Going by train is less trouble, but it started raining this morning. It was hard coming to the station in the rain with a small child."

Rina Akter, who came from Bangshal with a small child, said: "Because of the rain I came by CNG with my child. They charged more, but there is nothing to be done. I have to go home for Eid."

Like those heading home, traders at cattle markets were also hit. Because of the rain there were few buyers at the markets in the morning, though sellers hoped more would come as the day went on.

Heavy rain is falling in the three coastal divisions of Chattogram, Khulna and Barishal, and the Meteorological Department said rain may increase in four divisions in the central, northern and north-eastern parts of the country by Thursday.

Meteorologists said the low over north Odisha and adjoining areas now lies over Chhattisgarh and adjoining areas. The monsoon axis extends through Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and southern Bangladesh to Assam. The monsoon is active over Bangladesh and strong over the north Bay of Bengal.

Giving the forecast for the 24 hours from 6pm on Tuesday, meteorologist Md Omar Faruk said light to moderate rain or thundershowers with temporary gusty winds may occur at most places in Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions and at many places in Rangpur, Rajshahi and Mymensingh divisions. Moderately heavy to heavy falls may occur at places in the country.

He said day and night temperatures may remain nearly unchanged across the country during this time.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.