In the schorching summer days are getting sizzling hot by degrees . As the mercury has begun its upward climb, heat wave engulfs the country raising health risks like heatstroke and perilous increase in blood pressure, diarrhoea, dysentery and other ailments. Every year many people lose their lives due to extreme heat in our country.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has issued a 72-hour nationwide heat alert starting from Friday saying the ongoing heat wave is likely to continue in most parts of the country. So, discomfort might be compounded due to high humidity during this period. Considering the health safety of the students, the government on Saturday decided to keep all public and private schools -- both primary and secondary -- closed from April 21 to 27 as the heatwave is sweeping the country.
Not only Bangladesh, but many parts of the world are facing heatwave due to ongoing climate crisis. Dehydration and overheating of body can lead to serious trouble if immediate action is not taken for rehydration, according to experts.
Severe heat wave is sweeping the country and it may continue. Country's maximum temperature on Friday was recorded 42.6 degrees Celsius in Jashore.
The extreme heat wave has paralysed life across the country. The continuous hot spells are affecting the life of the people seberely without any respite
It is becoming really unbearable with even the air conditioners failing to provide comfort from the heat in capital Dhaka. The scorching heat wave and high humidity levels are hindering life at all levels, as people are falling ill or fear to leave home in the sweltering heat.
Extreme heat wave
has paralysed life
across the country
The suffering of people is also to continue in the face of the continuing heat wave. In the capital, fares for manually drawn rickshaws, vans and pushcarts are on the rise due to the unbearable working conditions.
Water supply shortage and frequent power failure also worsened situation especially in the country’s rural areas. Acute water crisis in many areas especially of capital Dhaka, other metropolitan cities, district towns and even remote villages has compounded sufferings of the people.
Temperature was relatively higher in the west, north and central regions of the country than in the south and east regions. The heat wave brought the worst plight to the working-class people, like - day labourers, rickshaw pullers and farmers, especially those who work outdoors.
On the other hand, sales of seasonal fruits, iced juices, and ice cream have also gone up because of he high demand to cool the body, and the sales persons are also taking advantage of the situation hiking prices of these products. Physicians caution such contaminated juice or drink can cause various diseases like diarrhoea, jaundice, typhoid, cholera, and paratyphoid.
Apart from human beings, other animals and birds are also suffering due to the continuous heat wave. Population exposure to heat is increasing due to climate change, WHO says, adding globally extreme temperature events are observed to be increasing in their frequency, duration, and magnitude.
While the effects of heat may be exacerbated in cities the livelihoods and wellbeing of non-urban communities can also be severely disrupted during and after periods of unusually hot weather. All have to remain extra cautious against the current hot spell and avoid the burning sun.