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Why is Bangladesh sizzling?
Due to the severe heatwave in Bangladesh throughout this month so far, distressing scenes have been appearing across the country.
By midday, bustling streets become deserted of pedestrians.
The situation has turned so bad that the bitumen layers of roads are melting in many areas, reports DT.
Children's hospitals are overflowing with patients, while many adults are dying of heat stroke every day.
Amid such unprecedented weather, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department again issued a heatwave warning, or “heat alert”, across the country on Thursday morning.
“It (heatwave) may continue for the next three days,” the Met Office said.
It is feared that this year's heat conditions are going to surpass all previous records.
Due to the sweltering heat, schools, colleges, and madrasas were closed last week. The high schools and colleges will open on Sunday.
Breaking grim record
The previous longest continued heat wave lasted for 23 days back in 2019. But the BMD already reported the feat on Thursday.
"In 2019, 23 days of two months—April and May—were for sweeping mild to moderate heatwaves. This year, April alone reached exactly 23 days of mild to moderate heatwave, meaning April has broken the record for prolonged month of heatwave," said Meteorologist Muhammad Abul Kalam Mallik.
"This ongoing heatwave will continue despite some areas near border areas witnessing little rainfall," he said.
“Due to increasing moisture incursion, the discomfort may increase,” he warned, saying: “In the next five days, this intense heat wave may exceed the previous record.”
The meteorologist said he is not sure whether the heatwave will weaken after that.
“It is feared that this situation may continue till next month,” he added.
What’s to blame?
The Centre for Atmospheric Pollution Studies (CAPS), which is measuring the temperature of different places in Dhaka, has found many global, regional, and local reasons for the sizzling heat.
CAPS Chairman Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumder said: “One of the reasons for the excessive heat in Bangladesh is that it is losing cooling factors as warming factors increase.”
Other than blaming mindless and unplanned urbanization, carbon emissions, and deforestation, he pointed out the use of glass-made buildings as another major reason for the heatwave.
Nawaz Farhin Antara