Act Now to Prevent Heat Deaths

Extreme heat is no longer merely a matter of discomfort. A recent Climate Impact Lab report warned that Bangladesh could be among the countries most vulnerable to heat-related deaths in the years ahead. The report estimated that climate-induced temperature changes could cause around 4, 30,000 additional deaths worldwide every year by 2050, with poorer countries expected to shoulder a disproportionately heavier burden. While wealthier nations can protect their populations through air conditioning and other cooling technologies, millions in poorer countries lack such means.

However, deadly consequences are already evident. France recorded 5,765 additional deaths during the heat wave between June 17 and July 2 this year, while more than 10,000 added deaths were reported across Europe. These figures should serve as a clear warning for Bangladesh, where vulnerability is compounded by affordability and reliability of electricity.

Although easy access to electricity has expanded considerably, a power connection does not necessarily mean adequate protection from extreme heat. Many households cannot afford energy-intensive cooling, while load-shedding can render even a fan inoperable when it is needed most.

Concurrently, the recent electricity tariff increase has added to the concern. In June, the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission raised the weighted average retail electricity price by 16.68 per cent - from Tk 9.11 to Tk 10.63 per kilowatt-hour. 

The government must therefore ensure fuel security, generation, transmission and distribution while ensuring that tariff policies do not unreasonably burden ordinary consumers. Moreover, reliable electricity is essential not only for households but also for hospitals and other critical services during periods of extreme heat.

However, we cannot rely on air conditioning alone to cope with a warming climate. Trees offer a simpler and more sustainable form of protection. Mature trees provide shade, reduce heat absorbed by concrete and asphalt, improve air quality and make urban areas more liveable. Consequently, protecting existing trees and expanding green spaces should be treated as an integral part of climate adaptation and public-health policy.

In this regard, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s initiative to plant 25 crore trees across the country over the next five years deserves appreciation. Nevertheless, planting saplings is only the beginning. Their proper nurturing must be ensured through proper maintenance and monitoring.

Also, the country needs advanced early heat-warning systems, better hospital preparedness, shaded public spaces and greater protection for outdoor workers, including rickshaw-pullers, farmers and construction workers.

To conclude, recent deaths in Europe expose a disturbing reality of what a hotter world may bring. We must take that warning seriously and act before extreme heat becomes an even greater threat to public health and human life. It is high time we prioritised heat resilience not as a future concern, but as an urgent national priority.