Over the past few weeks, heat waves have wreaked havoc on public life. Diseases are increasing in unbearable heat. People are dying of heat stroke. A ‘heat alert’ has been issued. Schools and colleges have been closed. Hospitals of the country have been instructed to prepare. Around 15 people have died of heatstroke across the country so far.
Now do not know the reason for the increase in heat wave. Deforestation, depletion of rivers, ponds, canals and water bodies and global regional and local factors are among them.
One of the causes of global warming is greenhouse gases released by human activities. These gases trap the sun’s heat in the Earth’s atmosphere, causing the temperature to rise. Burning of fossil fuels increases the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
Besides unplanned urbanization, burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, agriculture, industry, vehicles, natural causes, volcanic eruptions, sea level rise, ice melting, loss of biodiversity, climate change. Mainly due to these reasons heat flow is increasing.
According to meteorologists and disaster management experts and urban planners, the main reason for the rising temperatures is global climate change, for which the developed world, especially the industrialized countries, are responsible. But in the case of Bangladesh, apart from these global factors, experts blame unplanned urbanization and unnecessary damage to the environment.
Now the buildings are designed with central air conditioning system or air conditioners in mind. But earlier many buildings were made in such a way that only fans were used in summer.
Meteorologist Bajlur Rashid says that to bring the situation under control, climate policy must be implemented, especially by increasing electrified public transport like metro rail, as well as constructing environment-friendly buildings. Canals, ponds – all have been filled. No reservoir. These are necessary to temporarily reduce the temperature.
Along with urbanization, many experts emphasize planning how to make cities more environmentally friendly.
Many experts believe that urbanization will increase as the economic condition of the country improves. But cities need to ensure a master plan, greenery to keep the temperature under control.
Initiatives should be taken to reduce the population of cities. City facilities should be spread outside the city. In this way, population density should be reduced. Besides, the buildings should be made environment friendly.
For the last few years in Bangladesh, new records have been set in terms of temperature increase.
Earlier on April 25, 2021, the highest temperature record of 26 years was broken and a new record was set in Bangladesh and the highest temperature in the country on that day was 41.2 degrees Celsius.
According to the Meteorological Department, earlier in 2014, a temperature of 42 degrees was recorded in Chuadanga.
This time the maximum temperature rose to 42.6 degrees in Jessore yesterday on 20th April. Although at the same time many places are seeing 40 degree or more temperature this time.
Climate change experts, meteorologists and urban planners say this trend of rising summer temperatures will continue in the next few years unless appropriate action is taken. Diseases will increase in the country if heat flow cannot be controlled. Public life will be a disaster. The number of deaths due to heat stroke will be longer and Bangladesh will face a major crisis in the near future.
Masudur Rahaman
Writer and journalist