Bangladesh ranks second globally in exposure to elevated temperatures, but the capital has become a global hotspot for urban heat, with the mercury increasing by around 65 percent more in Dhaka compared to national average.
A recent report found that although the average national temperature increased by 1.1°C between 1980 and 2023, Dhaka's heat levels soared by 1.4°C as a result of rapid urbanisation, population growth, and unplanned development resulting in the loss of green spaces.
For example, although the total city area of the capital increased by 19% between 2001 and 2017, the population increased by around 77%.
The average rise in the heat index in Dhaka has also shot up by more than four-fold in the nine years from 2015-2023, reaching an average of 0.30°C, compared to the data from 1980-2023, when it averaged around 0.07°C.
The 'heat index' takes into account factors such as humidity. In layman's terms, it is similar to the 'feels like' temperature often displayed on weather reports.
The report, titled "An Unsustainable Life: The Impact of Heat on Health and the Economy of Bangladesh" was launched on 16 September 2025 at Hotel Sonargaon at a programme chaired by Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan.
"Our administration, our planning, all are failing in addressing these issues," Rizwana said, emphasising effective urban planning, urban greenery activities and massive reassessment of development policies.
"How many people can Dhaka host? That is the core issue."
25 million working days lost to heat-related stress
According to data from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the nine years from 2015 to 2023 have been the hottest on record globally.
The unprecedented temperature rise is not only affecting the physical and mental health of the citizens, but also wreaking havoc on the national economy.
Only in 2024, around 25 million or 2.5 crore working days were lost for the physical and mental health effects. In terms of value, it costs from $1.33 to $1.78 billion, amounting to 0.3 to 0.4% of the 2024 GDP of Bangladesh.
To gauge seasonal impacts, researchers conducted two rounds of household surveys covering both urban and rural areas with a sample size of 7,267 households of 31,217 individuals.
In terms of physical health, the biggest problem identified by respondents is chronic coughing. Around 3.3% identified it as an issue in winter and 6% in summer.
Heat exhaustion is another major issue, with around 2.6% of the respondents displaying symptoms in the summer. Those aged 36 to 65 reported the highest impact.
If the mercury exceeds 35°C, the chance of suffering from heat exhaustion rises 26.5% compared to when the temperature is below 30°C.
Diarrhoea is another summertime worry being reported by 4.4% of respondents. However, in winter, it impacted just 1.8% of surveyed individuals.
Children under five and women are most affected by diarrhoea. When the temperature rises over 35°C, the probability of diarrhoea rises 47.7% compared to below 30°c temperature.
Mental health also showed seasonal variance.
In winter, the prevalence of depression was 16.2% among respondents. It rise to 20% in the summer. Similarly, anxiety levels also rise from 8.3% in winter to 10% in summer. When temperatures exceed 35°C, the likelihood of such mental impacts rises by 23.8% and 37.1% respectively compared to when the mercury is below 30°C.
What do the experts say?
Jean Pesme, World Bank division director for Bangladesh and Bhutan, said, "Extreme heat is not just a seasonal inconvenience. Its impact is far reaching as we see in Bangladesh that the rising temperature is affecting our health and productivity, and the country's prosperity.
"By building on its experience in climate adaptation and taking a coordinated approach across sectors, Bangladesh can address the heat wave impacts and maintain sustainable growth. The good news is that it can be done, as seen in countries like Singapore and others."
Md Sayedur Rahman, special assistant of the health ministry, opined that discussions on climate change should be broader and both the international and national actors of heat and temperature rise should be made accountable.
Overall, the study recommended enhancing the capacity to deal with increasing heat through a multi-sectoral approach, increasing the capacity of the health sector to fight loss of life due to rising heat, using sophisticated technologies to protect the public health from increasing heat, to collect and analyse better data for effective decisions, and to secure international cooperation and funds to mitigate the impact of global warming.
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