The country has been experiencing severe heatwaves, disrupting the normal lives of people, particularly in urban areas, where built-up infrastructure magnifies temperatures amid densely populated environments.
However, this year’s heatwaves have been felt more intensely due to frequent load-shedding across the country, caused by fuel supply shortages in the wake of the Middle East conflict, which resulted in the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which over 80 percent of our crude oil and LNG are transported.
Since early this month, temperatures have started to take a toll on people. The heat has gradually intensified, and on April 22, the year’s highest temperature was recorded in Rajshahi at 40°C. However, it cooled down to 37.8°C in the same place as of Friday.
Meanwhile, heatwaves are now sweeping across at least 18 districts. The concern is that the extreme heat will persist for a few more days, according to a bulletin from the Meteorological Department. The affected districts include Rajshahi, Pabna, Sirajganj, Dhaka, Feni, Bandarban, Rangamati, and Patuakhali, along with 10 districts in the Khulna Division.
Bangladesh has historically experienced seasonal heatwaves in its northwestern districts, but recent years have marked a significant shift. Meteorologists say the pattern is changing in three critical ways: heatwaves are lasting longer, spreading across wider geographic areas and increasing in intensity, with peak temperatures rising steadily.
Like other cities, Dhaka is experiencing sweltering heat, with temperatures recorded at 36.2°C on Friday. Residents have increasingly felt the intensity of summer due to unplanned urbanisation over the past decades. The capital is home to about 23 million people, many of whom live in buildings and flats, while a large number reside in tin-roofed slums that can turn into ovens during extreme heat.
Although the scorching weather has caused various diseases, including diarrhoea, colds, fever, cough, and shortness of breath, a measles outbreak has compounded the situation this year. There has also been a rise in typhoid, hepatitis, and jaundice during this hot weather. As a result, city hospitals are now swelling with patients suffering from heat-related illnesses, particularly diarrhoea and fever.
In this situation, the government needs to launch massive campaigns to raise awareness about the effects of heatwaves and advise people on the dos and don’ts during extreme heat. For individuals, it is essential to stay indoors during the daytime. If going out is unavoidable for urgent work, they should use umbrellas, hats, or light clothing to cover their heads.
The government also needs to act immediately by deploying spray cannon vehicles to create artificial rain on streets to cool urban areas and protect people from heatstroke, as this method has proven effective in the past.
