Bangladesh is facing its most extended heatwave in the last 50 years, causing the closure of thousands of schools and intensifying the suffering of the local population due to frequent power outages. Dhaka, the country’s capital, has seen temperatures rise to roughly 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), with the underprivileged suffering the most from the extreme heat.
Bazlur Rashid, a senior representative at the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, noted, “We’ve never experienced such an enduring heatwave since Bangladesh became independent in 1971.”
The government has responded to the crisis by shutting down many primary schools. At the same time, power production has significantly decreased, despite a heightened demand for air conditioning and fans.
Earlier this week, the country’s largest power plant had to cease operations as the government couldn’t afford the coal required to keep it running. The Bangladeshi taka’s value fell by around 25 percent against the US dollar last year, which in turn inflated the cost of fuel imports and power services. As a result, other power plants have been unable to fulfill the increased demand, leading to long-lasting power outages.
