For a city to absorb carbon dioxide, open fields, parks, and wetlands are essential, but these are rapidly disappearing in Dhaka
The room measures thirteen feet in length and seven feet in width, surrounded by brick walls with a tin roof. There is a 2.5-foot door, but no windows or ventilation. Light and air have no way in or out, as the door must stay shut at night for safety.
There is a fan, but because of the very low ceiling, it can cause injury if hands are raised a bit too high. This is how Afsana Sultana describes her home. A domestic worker by profession, Afsana’s husband is an imam at a mosque.
Despite their combined income, this is the best they can afford in the expensive capital city of Dhaka. For five years, they have lived in one of the forty cramped units of Mirpur’s Taltola slum, locally known as Master Bosti.
Afsana’s description reflects the living conditions of countless slum dwellers in Dhaka.
According to the Bangladesh Sample Vital Statistics 2023, 5.54% of the urban households in the country live in slums. This proportion is 11.59% in city corporation areas, and for Dhaka division, it is 6.84%.

A visit to slums in early November this year, such as Karail, Master Bosti, Raju’s Bosti, and Chumki’s Garage, reveals a similar picture of overcrowding and deprivation.
Detailing her experience, Afsana told The Climate Watch, “Winters are not too bad since living in such tight quarters feels cozy. But summers are quite unbearable, especially during the heatwaves of the past two or three years.
“During the months of March and April, our room becomes uninhabitable. At night, when the door is shut, the air feels suffocating. After working all day in people’s homes, I still cannot get a proper rest at night.”
The heatwave in April 2024 left Afsana physically and mentally drained. She suffered from low blood pressure, weakness, and an elevated heart rate.
Even after following a doctor’s advice and taking medication, she remains unwell, frequently experiencing dizziness and irregular heartbeats. Afsana is unaware that the intense heatwaves may have caused her long-term health risks.
Mercury keeps rising
According to Monowar Hossain, a meteorologist at Bangladesh Meteorological Department, temperatures have risen steadily over the past three years.
“Global temperatures have risen, and Bangladesh is no exception. For instance, the use of air conditioners has increased significantly in just four years, increasing carbon dioxide in the air” – Monowar Hossain, meteorologist, Bangladesh Meteorological Department
Between March 29 and May 2, 2024, Bangladesh experienced an unprecedented 35-day-long severe heatwave, with temperatures ranging from 36°C to 43.8°C.
On April 29 alone, twenty-nine districts faced extreme risks, with Chuadanga recording the highest temperature at 43°C, while Dhaka sweltered at 40.5°C. Heatwaves were similarly severe in 2022 and 2023.
When asked about the causes of such sudden heatwaves, Monowar said, “Global temperatures have risen, and Bangladesh is no exception. For instance, the use of air conditioners has increased significantly in just four years, increasing carbon dioxide in the air.
“Population growth outside the capital has also reduced greenery, and environmental degradation is happening everywhere.”
Afsana also provided insights into the evolution of Master Bosti. Initially, the 16-katha slum had open spaces and decent housing. Over time, however, the owner, seeking higher profits, constructed numerous small and substandard units that were far from habitable.
Dr AKM Saiful Islam, a professor at the BUET Institute of Water and Flood Management, agrees with Afsana’s assessment.
“Our research results show that low-income housing in Dhaka is highly unhealthy, poorly planned, and neglected” – Dr AKM Saiful Islam, Professor, BUET Institute of Water and Flood Management
He points out, “Dhaka is an unplanned city, a jungle of concrete. Our research results also show that low-income housing in Dhaka is highly unhealthy, poorly planned, and neglected.
“To address these issues, the Detailed Area Plan (DAP) began in 2016 with a vision for a well-planned city accommodating all income groups. But how much of this plan has been implemented? Besides, provisions for industrial and commercial zones in the DAP remain largely unexecuted.”
For a city to absorb carbon dioxide, open fields, parks, and wetlands are essential. But these are rapidly disappearing. Dhaka had 57 canals after the independence, of which only 26 remain. Without strict government action, these, too, could vanish.
The DAP aimed to address the needs of low-income residents, yet it is doubtful whether about 40% of its plans have been implemented or not in two decades. Without proper urban planning, climate change will further intensify its impacts on the environment and human health.
Rising temperatures have direct and severe consequences on physical and mental health, and people living in low and middle-income groups are the worst victims of the adverse weather.
Threat of heat strokes
Heatwaves cause several diseases, with heat strokes being the most common. Heat stroke is a severe heat-related illness that causes the body temperature to rise above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).
Red skin, headaches, dizziness, and confusion are common symptoms of heat strokes. Among the physical issues caused by heatwaves, heat stroke is considered the final stage, explained Ayesha Akhter, Deputy Director, 250 bedded TB Hospital, to The Climate Watch.
Heat cramps are the initial symptoms of heatstroke. It can be described as the early stage of heat-related illness. Dehydration and excessive sweating can occur in extreme heat, causing severe muscle cramps.
Heat cramps are most common in the abdomen, back, arms, or legs. Heat exhaustion is the second stage of heatstroke. This stage is characterized by extreme fatigue, sweating, thirst, muscle pain, rapid breathing, and weakness.
During a heat stroke, the body temperature rises to 40 degrees Celsius. This can cause symptoms such as body dryness, loss of sweating, dizziness, abnormal behaviour, fainting tendencies, and seizures.
Heat stroke is a serious health risk, with a possibility of death. Additionally, when the body temperature exceeds the critical limit, the patient may lose consciousness. Children are at higher risk because their bodies are less capable of regulating temperature.
Similarly, day labourers and workers who must work outdoors in the sun for extended periods are also at risk. To stay healthy, the first step is to take preventive measures.
The heatwave in 2024 broke all records. According to data provided by the Health Emergency Operations Center and Control Room of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) related to heat stroke, thirty-five people were affected by heat strokes due to the heatwave in 2024.
Among them, fifteen individuals died, including thirteen men and two women. One person died of heatstroke in Chuadanga, Khulna, Habiganj, Rajbari, Jhenaidah, Lalmonirhat, and Bandarban. All those who died were men aged between 32 to 79 years, living in rural areas.
DGHS Line Director Dr Mizanur Rahman said, “The actual number of heat stroke cases might be higher than the official figures. The DGHS only accounted for data from government hospitals in 2024.
“The actual number of heat stroke cases might be higher than the official figures. The DGHS only accounted for data from government hospitals in 2024″ – Dr Mizanur Rahman, Line Director, DGHS
“It is unknown whether patients are seeking treatment at the many private hospitals and clinics across the country.”
Former Director General of the DGHS Professor Robed Amin said, “The year 2024 saw an extremely intense heatwave early on. The Meteorological Department issued warnings, but no preventive measures were taken.
“However, it is important to consider that such extreme heatwaves are new for Bangladesh.”
Sufia Begum, who used to work at a brick kiln in Chuadanga, died of heat stroke at Chuadanga Sadar Hospital. According to the hospital doctors, she had been suffering from the symptoms of heatwave for three days before her death.
Her family reported that she had been experiencing pain in various parts of her body and excessive sweating. However, she continued to work at the brick kiln with such symptoms.
Professor Robed Amin added, “The Health Emergency Operations Center and Control Room maintains records of the diseases that show a significant prevalence. Heat-related illnesses caused by heatwaves are also included in this list.”
He pointed out that healthcare workers, including doctors and nurses, previously lacked a clear understanding of how to identify heat stroke symptoms in patients. The DGHS recently developed guidelines and has started training government healthcare providers accordingly.
Significant risks for women, children
A study by the National Institute of Preventive and Social Medicine (NIPSOM) revealed that the increasing frequency and intensity of heatwaves in urban areas pose significant health risks, especially for women and children.
The study found that heatwaves have led to adverse health effects during pregnancy, such as low birth weight, premature births, and stillbirths. Furthermore, the rate of illness and mortality among newborns has gone up.
Children’s respiratory diseases have also surged due to the extreme heat.

According to the NIPSOM data, children are particularly sensitive to heatwaves because of factors such as their limited ability to regulate body temperature, faster metabolic rate, lower cardiac output, prolonged exposure to outdoor environments, and lack of self-reliance.
NIPSOM Director Professor Dr Md Ziaul Islam said, “Children are increasingly exposed to risks from polluted air, noise, heavy metals in contaminated water, and rising temperatures, all of which threaten their health and future.”
To tackle these challenges, NIPSOM and UNICEF have jointly initiated the “Children’s Environmental Health Situation Assessment” project to address seven thematic areas in combating these issues.
Bangladesh sits among the top ten in the list of most climate-vulnerable countries, and the country is also natural disaster-prone – the recent heatwaves and flash floods turned upside down the lives of people in many regions around the nation.
Women and children are at increased risk of adverse impacts of climate change. Bangladesh has been actively advocating for equitable international financing to mitigate these challenges.
This commitment was evident during the recent COP conference in Baku, Azerbaijan. Moving forward, the expectation is for both global and national policymakers to take effective and inclusive actions, especially considering the plight of low-income populations.
This article is supported by the CPRD-CW Reporting Fellowship 2024