By Yasif Hasan, Dhaka, Bangladesh

The coastal belt of Bangladesh—especially the southwestern part comprising Satkhira, Khulna, and Bagerhat districts—faces a mounting humanitarian crisis due to intensifying extreme heat. Extreme heatwaves disrupt essential livelihoods, heighten dehydration and illness, and shrink water access in rural coastal areas – resulting in an exacerbated humanitarian crisis.

A New Threat Beyond Cyclones and Tidal Surges. Traditionally prone to cyclones and tidal surges, Bangladesh’s coastal belt is now grappling with a more concerning threat: relentless and prolonged heatwaves. In May 2024, Khulna recorded consecutive days above 41 °C, combining stifling humidity and saline intrusion—creating a deadly “wet‑bulb” environment. For communities already living on the climate frontline, extreme heat compounds their vulnerability.

Studies show the average temperature in Bangladesh’s coastal region is increasing at a rate of 0.023°C per year compared to 0.009°C in its inland areas.[1] Community consultations in Shyamnagar and Dacope sub-districts of Satkhira reveal growing concern. Vast water bodies are contaminated by saline water — the remaining few freshwater ponds are drying up in the hot summers.

Multidimensional Humanitarian Impact. The full extent of the humanitarian impact of extreme heat is largely under-reported. Extreme heat’s impact on human health and wellbeing remains poorly documented in Bangladesh. Agricultural livelihoods are severely disrupted, as farmers who once adjusted to salinity now confront scorching fields where even salt-tolerant paddy fails to thrive. Women and girls bear disproportionate burdens—fetching water from increasingly distant sources and caring for affected family members, while they themselves struggle to cope with fatigue during daily chores. Extreme heat increases the risk of pre-existing medical conditions among the aged population in rural Bangladesh.

Immediate response has largely focused on awareness and temporary potable water supply campaigns, but the lack of sustainable and long-term options remains. Cyclone shelters—vital for the frequent, extreme weather events—are not designed to serve as heat relief centres. Local healthcare facilities are unequipped for responding to heatstroke and other heat-induced illnesses. BMD has recently started piloting heat early warning, but rarely includes heat advisories focusing on rural coastal communities.

A Call for Integrated Solutions. Bridging response and resilience to extreme heat in coastal Bangladesh demands a comprehensive approach. It is important to link policy and action to address extreme heat. Existing disaster risk reduction mechanisms, such as cyclone shelters, CPP volunteers, and Ward Disaster Management Committees, have a promising potential to combat extreme heat events. Participatory approaches involving women, youth, and community leaders can ensure that responses are locally relevant and sustainable. Heat-resilient, gender-sensitive cyclone shelters and green public spaces can be great examples of locally led, climate-resilient infrastructure.

Conclusion: A Humanitarian and Climate Justice Issue. The southwest coastal Bangladesh teaches us that extreme heat is not just a meteorological phenomenon—it is a humanitarian concern that intersects with poverty, gender, and climate injustice. Local actors must move beyond reactive measures to long-term, comprehensive, locally-led resilience strategies built upon community experience and scientific evidence.

[1] Abdullah, A.Y.M., Biswas, R.K., Chowdhury, A.I. and Billah, S.M. (2018) Modeling soil salinity using direct and indirect measurement techniques: a comparative analysis. Environmental Development, 29, 67–80.

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