At least 20 people were killed and 74 others injured in storms and lightning strikes triggered by pre-monsoon rains at different parts of the country on Monday.
According to reports reaching the desk of the news agency, 16 people were killed in lightning strikes in Nawabganj upazila of Dhaka, Gazipur, Sherpur and Gopalganj, Jamalpur, Barisal and Pirojpur while four died as nor’wester lashed Bhola district.
In Dhaka, two farmers were killed in lightning strikes at Kandamatra and Chak Singhara villages in Nawabganj upazila of Dhaka.
The police and locals said thunderbolts killed Swapan Majumdar, 20, and Giasuddin, 35, as they were working on their respective farmlands.
In Sherpur, three madrassah students were killed as a streak of thunderbolt hit them at Chhatrakona in Nokla upazila in the afternoon.
The deceased were Minhajul Islam,15, Chan Miah,12 and Masud Miah,10, all students of Chhatrakona Moffazalia Madrassah.
Anisur Rahman, chairman of Urfa union under the upazila, said a lightning struck the students while they were playing on the madrassah playground at about 1:30pm, leaving the trio injured.
They were taken to a local health complex where doctors declared them dead.
In Gazipur, two people died as a thunderbolt struck them at Bhobanipur village in sadar upazila.
Quoting local people, the police said Sujan, 27, and Dolon, 26, of Patpocha village in the upazila were critically injured in a lightning strike around 8:00am while they were going to their workplaces amid rains.
They were taken to sadar hospital where they died at about 9:15am.
In Gopalganj, two people were killed and five injured in a lightning strike at Uttarpar village in Kotalipara upazila.
Quoting witnesses, the Kotalipara thana officer-in-charge, Tota Miah, said Nihar Dhali, 25, of Burua village and Sujan Gyne,17, of Shimulbari village were killed after being hit by a thunderbolt while working on a watermelon field during rains. The injured were admitted to upazila health complex.
In Jamalpur, a lightning strike left two people dead and four others wounded at Tin Ani in Bakshiganj uapzila.
Witnesses said thunderbolt hit the passengers of a human hauler, leaving Murshedul Islam,30 and Chan Miah,26, of Nayapara village, dead on the spot and four others injured at 2:00pm. The injured were admitted to upazila health complex.
In Barisal, three people were killed as thunderbolts struck them at Muladi and Agoiljhara upazilas.
Locals said Jamal alias Zoynal Mollah, a member of the Bede community, died on the spot after being hit by a thunderbolt in the River Arial Kha  near Gauchha under Muladi upazila.
Besides, Sujon Mia, 17, and Nihar, 18, were killed by a lightning strike while working on a field in Poisarhaat area under Agoiljhara upazila at noon.
In Pirojpur, a banana trader died on the spot when a streak of lightning struck him at Rajarakathi village in Sadar upazil in the evening.
Witnesses said a thunderbolt hit Abdur Rab Chowdhury of the district town while he was bringing banana in a boat through Kalakhali canal.
Meanwhile, at least four people were killed and 65 others injured as nor’westers lashed Brahmanbaria and Bhola on Monday.
In Bhola: A nor’wester swept different villages of Manpura and Borhanuddin upazilas killing four, including two minors, people and 50 others injured in the afternoon.
The tropical storm also razed to the ground at least 1,100 dwelling houses in the two upazilas, rendering several hundred families homeless.
Ayesha Begum, 65, and Sakina, 35, were instantly killed as two houses collapsed on them at Bathanbari at Tar union in Borhanuddin upazila at 4:30pm.
Tahmina, 6, was killed on the courtyard of their house at Uttar Sakuchia while Jannat, 8, on the compound of their house when the storm hit neighbouring Dakkhin Sakuchia in Manpura upazila at around 4:00pm. The injured were admitted to different hospitals.
In Brahmanbaria: At least 15 people were injured and over 100 houses damaged as a tornado swept different villages in Bijopynagar upazila in the afternoon.
Local sources said over 100 dwelling houses were completely damaged and large number of trees, electric poles uprooted as the nor’wester hit the upazila at 4:00pm.