A report released by the World Bank reveals that in 2024, Bangladesh lost approximately US$1.78 billion due to extreme heat, representing about 0.4% of its GDP. Heat-related illnesses, exhaustion, fatigue, and respiratory problems are on the rise, disproportionately affecting poor and vulnerable elderly populations.

The study notes that maximum temperatures have risen approximately 1.1°C since 1980, but the perceived heat index has increased much faster in densely populated urban areas, where the lack of green spaces and reflective materials exacerbates the situation.

Women, in particular, face special burdens: many combine outdoor work with family care, living in poorly ventilated neighborhoods exposed to higher levels of pollution. This increases their risk of illness and also limits their participation in the workforce and their productivity during heat waves.

The report calls for urgent adaptations: early warning systems, modifications to urban infrastructure, access to air-conditioned medical services, subsidies for those who cannot afford costly measures against the heat, and public policies with a gender perspective.

Bangladesh could become a cautionary tale for other tropical countries already feeling the effects of global warming. Acting now is not an option, but a matter of climate justice.