The scorching heat of Jyoishtho is not a new experience for the people of Bangladesh. However, the oppressive heat, abnormal humidity, and unusual temperature patterns of the current year have created such unbearable conditions that they can no longer be dismissed as merely a seasonal discomfort.
On one side of the country there are heatwaves, while on the other there are storms and rain—suffocatingly humid weather in some places, sudden lightning and heavy downpours in others. The entire situation appears to be a dire warning of the abnormal transformation of our climate.
Meteorologists say that although thermometers show a certain temperature, the human body is actually feeling temperatures 5 to 10 degrees higher. Due to excessive moisture and humidity, this “feels like” temperature is making daily life miserable.
Even a short walk causes profuse sweating; working-class people are becoming exhausted, children are falling ill, and conditions are becoming dangerous for the elderly.
In particular, for rickshaw pullers, construction workers, day laborers, and street vendors, this heatwave is taking the form of a silent disaster.
The harsh realities of our urban life have intensified this suffering even further. In Dhaka and other major cities, the reduction of greenery, the unplanned spread of concrete structures, the filling up of water bodies, and the narrowing of air circulation paths are turning cities into “heat islands”.
In other words, temperatures within the cities are becoming significantly higher than in surrounding areas. This urban heat is no longer just an environmental issue; it is also having serious impacts on public health, labor productivity, and the economy.
It must also be remembered that the impact of climate change in Bangladesh is no longer a fear for the future—it is now a present reality. On one hand there are prolonged droughts and heatwaves, and on the other sudden excessive rainfall and floods.
These extreme contrasts in nature are occurring more and more frequently. The government must immediately pay greater attention to several issues. First, initiatives are needed to control temperatures through tree plantation in urban areas, preservation of canals and water bodies, and planned urbanization.
Second, it is essential to formulate “heat safety guidelines” for working-class people. During periods of extreme heat, temporary adjustments to working hours, the supply of safe drinking water, and arrangements for rest must be ensured.
Third, hospitals and health centers must be prepared to deal with heat strokes, dehydration, and heat-related illnesses. At the same time, public awareness must also be increased.
Avoiding unnecessary exposure to the midday sun, drinking adequate water, taking special care of children and the elderly, and staying in safe shelters during lightning storms are no longer merely suggestions—they are essential conditions for survival.
The media and educational institutions can also play an effective role in creating this awareness.
However, the fundamental solution to the problem cannot remain limited to immediate measures alone. Environmental and climate-sensitive thinking must be incorporated into our very model of development. No civilization has survived for long by remaining in conflict with nature.
It must be remembered that today’s suffocating heat is not merely a normal feature of the season—it is a warning sign of a much deeper crisis.
If we do not become cautious now, then in the Bangladesh of the future, summer may come to mean a season of prolonged health risks, loss of labor, and humanitarian disaster.
Therefore, instead of dismissing this uncomfortable heat as a temporary hardship, accepting it as a stern warning of climate reality would be the mark of wisdom.