IN RECENT years, extreme weather events such as severe heatwaves or unusually cold winters have become a common feature of Bangladesh鈥檚 climate, yet the government appears unprepared to tackle the public health consequences of such events. As the country has been gripped by a severe heatwave with record high day temperatures, children and the elderly population are bearing the brunt of it. In Dhaka, the day temperature reached 40.4 掳C on April 20, which was the second hottest day in 64 years since 1960. On April 21, three individuals in three different districts reportedly died from heatstroke. In April 10鈥�20, the Dhaka Shishu Hospital attended a total of 1,869 children; of them, 451 were pneumonia patients, 1,251 came with common colds, and 167 had asthma. The daily admission at the Rajshahi Medical College Hospital had increased to nearly 1,000 due to the heatwave, and they were planning to open a full-fledged heatwave corner. In what follows, the health minister鈥檚 instruction, issued on April 21, to 鈥榚veryone to be prepared to deal with adverse conditions鈥� came far too late and does not necessarily speak to the severity of the situation.聽A mere recommendation of the health directorate that labourers in the informal sector refrain from working under the scorching sun without economic support cannot be an acceptable response.
The unpreparedness of the government is disconcerting because the heatwave did not come without a warning. At the beginning of April, the Bangladesh Meteorological Office reported a mild to moderate heatwave. Moreover, a severe heatwave is a manifestation of climate change but, in no way, an unreported weather event in recent years. In 2017鈥�2021, an Environment and Centre for Climate Change Economics study reported that around 1,430 people, aged 65 and up, have died from heat-related causes, which have accelerated due to climate change. Therefore, the government cannot justify its delayed action and impromptu heat wave response plan. Sadly, such unpreparedness is rather a characteristic of our health system and the government鈥檚 planning process. In 2023, the country experienced 12 extreme weather events that included untimely heavy rain, drought, frequent cyclones, and unusual fluctuations in temperature. In the immediate past winter, at least 32 people died of cold-related diseases, and at least 233,322 people were admitted to hospitals. It is true that seasonal events are not an absolutely predetermined issue; however, better preparation could definitely minimise public suffering and that is where the government is routinely found at fault. 聽
Bangladesh stands at the forefront of emerging climate chaos, with extreme weather events becoming its climate features. The government, under the circumstances, needs to improve climate resilience strategies and climate data management so it can ascertain changing patterns in our climate and act accordingly. Equally important is for the government to develop an immediate response plan for extreme weather events that includes severe heat waves, allocate adequate resources for public health facilities, ensure uninterrupted access to power, and arrange safe water in public places, particularly industrial areas.
