2024 Bangladesh heatwave
| Areas | Bangladesh |
|---|---|
| Start date | April 1, 2024 |
| Peak temp. | 43.8[1] °C (110.8 °F) |
| Losses | |
| Deaths | 15+ |
| Injuries | Unknown |
The 2024 Bangladesh heatwave was a significant weather event affecting the South Asian nation of Bangladesh.[2] The heatwave was characterized by extremely high temperatures that reached up to 43.8 °C (110.8 °F),[1][3] 16 degrees more than the annual average.[4] It led to nationwide school closures, impacting an estimated 33 million children's education.[4] The heatwave, which swept over several northern and southern districts of Bangladesh,[5] is considered one of the most intense since records began in 1948.[6] The event has been attributed by World Weather Attribution to climate change.[7] It has also been linked to other man-made causes, including rapid urbanisation, forest clearance, shrinking water bodies, and increased usage of air conditioning.[6] This heatwave marks the second consecutive year that Bangladesh has been forced to close schools due to extreme heat.[8]
History
The 2024 Bangladesh heatwave represents a continuation of a disturbing climatic trend in the region. Historical data indicates an increasing frequency and intensity of heatwaves in Bangladesh over the past few decades. The 2023 Asia heat wave, which led to nationwide school closures, was the first of such severity in the country's recorded history.[9] The 2024 heatwave surpassed its predecessor in intensity, underscoring the escalating climate crisis in the region. The repeated occurrence of such extreme weather events has prompted scientists to investigate their correlation with global warming and local environmental changes.[10] The 2024 heatwave was not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of increasing temperatures and extreme weather events that have been affecting Bangladesh and the larger South Asian region.[11]
School closure
The government extended the Eid holiday break to April 27 because of the heatwave. The Supreme Court of Bangladesh ordered schools to shut down on Thursday, May 2.[12] Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury instructed secondary schools to re-open on Saturday, May 4. The decision to hold classes on the weekend was criticized by teachers.[13]
Ending
During the last weeks of the heatwave, it rained a couple of times, and the temperature started to return to normal.[1]
References
- ^ a b c "Rain pours relief for sweltering Dhaka". bdnews24.com. 2024-05-03. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
- ^ "Bangladesh, five other Asian countries swelter in extreme heatwave". Prothom Alo. Agence France-Presse. 2024-04-30. Retrieved 2024-05-03.
- ^ "Bangladesh: Heat Wave - Apr 2024". ReliefWeb. 2024-06-10. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
- ^ a b "Bangladesh: Extreme heat closes all schools and forces 33 million children out of classrooms - Bangladesh". Save the Children. 2024-04-25. Retrieved 2024-05-03 – via ReliefWeb.
- ^ "Severe heatwave continues in parts of Bangladesh". New Age. 2024-05-03. Retrieved 2024-05-03.
- ^ a b "Bangladesh again closes schools nationwide due to heatwave". France 24. 2024-04-29. Retrieved 2024-05-03.
- ^ "Climate change made the deadly heatwaves that hit millions of highly vulnerable people across Asia more frequent and extreme". World Weather Attribution. 2024-05-14. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
- ^ "Severe heatwave hits Khulna, some other parts of Bangladesh". New Age. 2024-05-03. Retrieved 2024-05-03.
- ^ "Bangladesh reopens schools even as heatwave alert extended by three days". Al Jazeera. 2024-04-28. Retrieved 2024-05-03.
- ^ "Extreme Heatwaves in Bangladesh: The Environmental Governance Perspectives". The Diplomat. 2024-04-25. Retrieved 2024-05-03.
- ^ "Heatwaves broil South Asia with record temperatures". The Business Standard. 2024-04-21. Retrieved 2024-05-03.
- ^ "HC orders to close all schools, madrasas till Thursday". The Daily Star. 2024-04-29. Retrieved 2024-05-03.
- ^ "Secondary schools return to class on Saturday". bdnews24.com. 2024-05-02. Retrieved 2024-05-03.