Bangladesh is likely to experience widespread rainfall for at least the next five days as an active monsoon continues to influence weather across the country, with the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) warning of heavy to very heavy downpours in several divisions.
The prolonged rainfall is expected to increase the risk of urban waterlogging, flash flooding in low-lying areas and landslides in the country's southeastern hill districts, while disrupting daily life in major cities, including Dhaka.
In its extended weather outlook issued on Monday, the BMD said the prevailing monsoon conditions are expected to remain favorable for continued rainfall through Friday, with no significant improvement in weather conditions.
Meteorologist Dr Abul Kalam Mallick said the axis of the monsoon trough extends through Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and central Bangladesh to Assam, with one of its extensions stretching into the northern Bay of Bengal.
"The monsoon is active over Bangladesh and remains in a moderate state over the northern Bay of Bengal," he said.
Meteorologists say this weather pattern is creating favorable conditions for repeated spells of rain and thunderstorms across most parts of the country.
According to the BMD, rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty winds are likely in most areas of Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Dhaka, Barisal, Chittagong and Sylhet divisions through Tuesday morning, while many places in Khulna division are also expected to receive rainfall.
Some locations in Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Dhaka, Barisal, Chittagong and Sylhet divisions may experience moderate to very heavy rainfall.
Day temperatures may fall slightly, while night temperatures are expected to remain nearly unchanged.
For the following 24-hour period beginning Tuesday morning, the weather office forecasts rainfall in many places across Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions, with scattered showers likely in Dhaka, Khulna, Barisal and Chittagong divisions.
Moderately heavy to heavy rainfall is expected in different parts of the country, while both day and night temperatures may rise slightly.
From Wednesday through Thursday, similar weather conditions are expected to prevail, with widespread rain or thunder showers and isolated heavy rainfall forecast across most divisions.
On Thursday and Friday, rainfall is expected to become more concentrated over Khulna, Barisal, Chittagong, Sylhet and Dhaka divisions, where some places may receive moderate to very heavy rainfall.
Temperatures are likely to decrease slightly toward the end of the week.
The forecast comes after several days of persistent rain triggered severe waterlogging in Dhaka and other cities, exposing long-standing weaknesses in urban drainage systems.
Large sections of the capital—including Airport Road, Mirpur, Dhanmondi, Mohammadpur, Badda, Jatrabari and parts of Old Dhaka—experienced traffic disruptions as roads remained submerged following heavy downpours over the weekend.
Similar situations have also been reported in Chittagong, Sylhet, Barisal and Khulna, where low-lying neighborhoods have remained inundated for hours after rainfall.
The continued rainfall is also expected to increase landslide risks in the hill districts of Chittagong Hill Tracts and Cox's Bazar, where saturated soil and steep slopes often become unstable during prolonged monsoon spells.
Disaster management officials have urged residents living in landslide-prone areas to remain alert, while local authorities have been advised to monitor vulnerable locations.
The BMD said the tendency for rainfall is likely to continue during the extended five-day outlook, indicating that much of the country will remain under the influence of an active monsoon throughout the week.
Weather experts advise people, particularly those living in low-lying and landslide-prone areas, to follow official weather updates and take necessary precautions as heavy rainfall continues across Bangladesh.