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This year has seen some of the warmest temperatures ever recorded in Bangladesh, with many heat waves that persist even now. According to the World Bank Group, temperatures in Bangladesh ranged from 15 to 35 degrees Celsius on average between 1901 and 2020. The warmest months are April through July, with an average temperature of 28 degrees Celsius and highs ranging from 30 to 35 or 36 degrees Celsius. However, in 2023, that figure has risen, regularly going above 35 degrees and occasionally going past 40 degrees.

This is already a difficult situation, but other climate and country-specific elements make the heat even more intolerable. According to daily updated data from Visual Crossing, a metric known as Real Feel Temperature, which takes into account wind, humidity, sun intensity, etc. to estimate how hot people feel, is significantly higher for Bangladesh, with the value normally being greater than the actual temperature by 5 or more degrees. In addition, Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated countries in the world, with a density that should currently be around 1328 people per square kilometre based on the latest UN projections from 2022. The capital city of Dhaka is particularly overcrowded. This only adds to the issue and is likely to become more problematic with time. These heat waves are also coinciding with a major electricity and power crisis due to difficulty paying for fuel imports as a result of declining forex reserves. Daily power cuts, which last for multiple hours a day, have left the citizens struggling to withstand the heat without the help of fans or air conditioners.

The heat has been a great source of discomfort for everyone in the nation, but some have suffered more than others. A large portion of the population lives in poverty, and their dwellings are not suited to help with the heat at all. The iron-sheet roofs of their tiny homes, which absorb heat, and a lack of fresh water are some examples of the added challenges they face. There are also outdoor workers, like those working in construction or agriculture, who have to endure the heat all day while doing very labour-intensive work. Workers in sectors like brick manufacturing go through similar pains, as they may work surrounded by hot ovens or furnaces. Thus, it is no surprise that many of them suffer from heat stroke, fatigue, dehydration, and cramps while on the job. Such conditions naturally hinder their productivity as well, which harms the economy. A recent report by the Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center titled ‘Hot Cities, Chilled Economies’, states that sectors such as garment manufacturing, transport, and retail trade already observe losses of up to 10% of income due to heat-related issues. Low labour productivity is said to cause output losses of about 6 billion USD annually. Clearly, the consequences of not addressing the heat waves are coming at a massive cost.

Unfortunately, Bangladesh does not have many systems in place to cope with such weather issues. Currently, heat wave warning alerts are forwarded to some news channels, which are then expected to report them to the population. However, this process can be improved upon. Better forecasting technology will allow the development of a better early warning system. Information regarding expected heat waves should not only be relayed as soon and as directly as possible, but guidelines similar to those published by the World Health Organization need to be issued to the citizens on how to best deal with the upcoming weather conditions. France’s National Heat Wave Plan is an excellent example of how early warnings through government-circulated posters, TV campaigns, and internet ads can help prepare the population for what is to come.

Bangladesh has also made efforts to increase the greenery in some areas of the major cities. This is a common tactic employed in many foreign countries, like the USA, to not only increase the visual appeal of a neighbourhood but also help cool it down. Trees are being planted on the sides of roads, offering much-needed shade to the vicinity. Such initiatives need to be continued and supported through the creation of parks and better city planning. Spacing out housing areas and finding ways to prevent congestion in the cities may assist in minimising the effect of the heat.

This is likely to occur when other areas of the country, besides the main cities like Dhaka and Chittagong, become more developed and attract citizens. The country could also prepare by filling up its water reserves beforehand to aid the poor in such times. The water can also be used to support agriculture. Orders for adjustments to work hours may also help people catch a break when the temperature is at its highest. These are all common parts of heat wave plans implemented by countries across the globe. The city of Ahmedabad in India is one that implements many of the solutions stated above to come up with an effective counter to heat waves. The city is even experimenting with various materials to see which ones can make buildings more resistant to heat.

Finally, it is important to understand that the trend of rising temperatures across the globe and more frequent natural disasters are all a result of climate change. No matter how much a country prepares, things will not get better if the root of the problem is not solved. Bangladesh, along with the rest of the world, must strive to reduce emissions that contribute to global warming. Otherwise, heat waves and other hazards will only continue to become more dangerous and a more common sight for us all.

Ajmain Zahin is a junior intern at the Centre for Governance Studies.

This article was originally published on Daily Asian Age.
Views in this article are author’s own and do not necessarily reflect CGS policy.