Living with Rising Temperatures: Extreme Heat as a Climate Change-Induced Impact in Dhaka, Bangladesh
In recent years, extreme heat has become one of the most persistent climate change-induced impacts in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Over the past decade, the temperature of the city reached almost 6°C and in the summer of 2025 alone, the city’s heat index rose to 40°C, severely impacting people’s health and livelihood. The rise in temperature and change in rainfall patterns have contributed to this. Moreover, unplanned urban development causing land use changes, poor infrastructure, and loss of green spaces have further worsened the situation.
This issue presents the following challenges in Dhaka city:
Health Issues: Outdoor workers, elderly people, children, and people with different health issues are vulnerable to extreme heat, which causes heat stroke, exhaustion, and death in many cases. Heat waves have also been found to increase the risk of hospitalization due to respiratory diseases, as well as kidney disease due to dehydration.
Reduced productivity: This mainly affects outdoor workers, such as garment workers, brick kiln workers, and construction workers among others, who suffer from various illnesses due to rise in temperature. It not only reduces their working hours, but also negatively impacts their income, which is particularly detrimental for informal workers who have moved from rural areas to Dhaka city.
Damaged infrastructure: Extreme heat puts pressure on infrastructure, such as asphalt roads, pavements and buildings that trap heat, causing them to get damaged and needing frequent repair. It also impacts electricity supply by causing frequent blackouts. Furthermore, poor cooling and ventilation systems in buildings, heavy dependence on groundwater causing contamination, and lack of safe drinking water stations in the city further make people vulnerable to extreme heat.
Gender issues: Women from marginalized groups particularly bear the brunt of extreme heat, since most of them work in the garments sector and also have to fulfill their caregiving duties at home, which involves cooking in extreme heat. Garments factories have been reported to reach upto 38°C, and without proper support, cause women to faint, suffer from dehydration, menstrual and pregnancy complications.
Some actions have been taken in recent years at different levels to respond to the challenges caused by extreme heat, although there is scope for improvement:
Land use monitoring station: Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) currently has a land use monitoring station in Dhaka. However, it does not cover all land use types and only captures city-wide averages used for climate modelling and weather forecasting. BMD can collaborate with the local government, the health ministry, and research organizations to create several monitoring stations for improved monitoring, evaluation, research, planning and management. This would also help to cover different land use types.
Early warning systems and cooling centres: BMD is issuing 48-72 hour warnings for communities to prepare for heat waves. Besides, public buildings and community centres have started to be used as cooling centres since 2024 to help vulnerable groups with low-income who lack proper cooling and ventilation systems.
National Action Plan and Climate Action Plan: The Bangladesh government has included extreme heat in the National Action Plan (NAP), and Dhaka city itself has launched a Climate Action Plan (CAP). However, Dhaka city does not have a Heat Action Plan (HAP) unlike the city of Narayanganj which is developing a HAP of its own with international support, and CAP for Dhaka does not specifically address how to tackle extreme heat and rising temperatures. Having a HAP specifically for Dhaka city would be crucial to tackle this issue.
Appointment of first Chief Heat Officer: Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has appointed a Chief Heat Officer (CHO) which is a first in Asia. The CHO will be responsible for improving existing heat awareness and protection efforts, while reducing the risks and impacts of extreme heat through introducing new work, which would especially help the low-income groups in the city.
Creation of green spaces: The DNCC has collaborated with private real estate developers to create green spaces in the form of parks, rooftop gardens and green belts to address the urban heat island effect. The government and private companies have also collaborated to create the Cool Roofs Initiative to implement reflective rooftops in Dhaka city’s informal settlements and reduce indoor temperatures.
Improvement of healthcare preparedness: NGOs like BRAC partner with private hospitals and pharmaceutical companies to raise awareness and provide training, which is useful to respond properly to heat-related illnesses and improve healthcare preparedness in Dhaka.
Individual and community practices: Individuals in Dhaka city have their own coping mechanisms against extreme heat such as proper shading, cooling fans, rooftop gardens and so on. At the community level, the government has been urged to declare extreme heat as a disaster to start developing the Heat Action Plan for Dhaka city as soon as possible.