Nearly 6 crore Bangladeshis endured risky heat this summer
Nearly six crore people in Bangladesh (around 57 million) or 34 percent of the population, endured over 30 days of dangerous heat between June and August this year, according to a new study by Climate Central.
The report highlights Bangladesh as one of the ten worst-affected countries worldwide, with extreme heat increasingly driven by human-induced climate change.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Of the total exposed, three crore people faced additional risky heat days directly caused by climate change, conditions that otherwise would not have occurred.
The findings warn of long-term consequences for public health, food security, water resources, and the economy if temperatures continue to climb.
'Risky heat days' are defined as days hotter than 90 percent of those recorded locally between 1991 and 2020.
Dhaka, one of the world's largest megacities, recorded 52 days this summer where climate change strongly influenced daily temperatures. The capital also faced a seasonal temperature anomaly of 0.3°C above the long-term average. Such anomalies, the report notes, significantly increase the likelihood and duration of heatwaves.
Other major cities have also been hit hard. Chattogram experienced the country's highest climate-driven heat exposure, with 59 risky heat days, while Rangpur recorded a 0.9°C rise above normal averages, leading to 37 risky heat days, 24 of which were directly linked to climate change.
Globally, billions of people have been affected by record-breaking heat this year, with human-driven climate change making such events longer and more likely.
The report warns that heat hazards often cause under-reported damage to health, crop yields, water resources, and ecosystems.
For Bangladesh, the impacts are already visible; rising hospital admissions during heatwaves, stress on staple crops such as rice and jute, and worsening urban heat islands in densely populated areas like Dhaka.
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