Dhaka, April 29 -- A double jeopardy of the highest temperature and a record power load-shedding made life a misery and slowed economic activity as the mercury heated up to 43 degrees Celsius in Bangladesh on Monday.

As the government opened schools and colleges after a short closure, with hope against hope of a letup in the blistering heat, the High Court took into cognizance appeals for campus closure and issued an order Monday for extending the shutdown until Thursday that will lead to a two-day weekend.

Met forecasts signal rain from early May, and the month starts Thursday.

Amidst one of the warmest summers in Bangladesh, with a blistering heat-wave stalking over the country since early this month of April, Chuadanga got scorched ...