Bangladesh is sweltering in severe heatwaves currently sweeping over the most parts of the country. And Dhaka is no difference where mercury on Tuesday soared to 38.4 degrees Celsius while the countrys highest temperature recorded in Chuadanga was at 40.6 degrees Celsius.
What is more worrying is that the heatwave will be persisting for the next few days. According to Bangladesh Meteorological Departments weather forecast, a mild to moderate heatwave will be sweeping over Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet.
Amid worsening weather condition, people who are to work outdoors like day laborers, rickshaw pullers, farmers and others are finding it hard to scrape by under the scorching heat of the sun. Even animals and birds are found restless and struggling in the intense heat.
Sweltering heat has also caused different kinds of diseases including diarrhea, cold, fever, cough and shortness of breath. There has also been a prevalence of typhoid, hepatitis and jaundice during this hot weather.
City hospitals have been swelling with patients affected by heat-related diseases mainly diarrhea and fever. The International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B) said the centre has been receiving increasing number of patients every day.
What are dos and don s as suggested by the doctors during summer heat? The first and foremost advice is to stay home during daytime. If not, use umbrellas, hats or light clothing to cover the head whenever outdoors.
It is also necessary to drink plenty of potable water, juice and liquid foods instead of consuming common, stale and open meals. Excessive physical activities must be shunned during the day and bearable home environment should be ensured.
With urbanization continuing unabated, Dhaka dwellers have increasingly felt the heat of summer days since the built-up environment magnifies the temperatures in the city areas. The issue of urban heat has become a grave concern as this has resulted from manifold increase of air condition use, rapid loss of green-blue space, construction of huge high-rise buildings and increased industrial activities.
Whats more, the greater Dhaka area is home to about 23 million people and most of them live in buildings and flats and a large number of them live in slums which are built with tin that can turn into an oven during the summer.
Like Dhaka, other major Bangladeshs biggest cities such as Chattogram, Rajshahi, Khulna, Barishal and Sylhet witnessed an increase in average daytime and nighttime temperatures in recent years.
Climate change is a key factor that has been warming up the entire globe. But every country like Bangladesh has to focus on its own ways of tackling the extreme heat by creating urban forests and preserving water reservoirs. Building cooling zones around the city on street corners or empty spaces may be another solution to combating the heatwaves.
