Losing our progress to extreme heat

We are shocked to learn that, as per a study by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) and the Ovibashi Karmi Unnayan Program (OKUP), informal workers collectively lose an estimated Tk50,630 crore in wages annually because of extreme heat. This is a staggering economic blow that is equivalent to 0.91% of GDP. To dismiss it as a distant climate threat would be a grave error—it is a present economic crisis. With outdoor workers missing up to 24 days of work each year due to unbearable temperatures, while indoor workers are also losing about 14 days too, we must remember that these are people who already earn below a living wage, and every lost day pushes them deeper into financial insecurity. While we cannot control the weather, we can reiterate that such extreme heat is as a result of climate change, and this global warming has been caused by the developed world. That they continue to not do their part in supporting developing nations such as ours suffering disproportionately from this crisis is among the greatest global failures of our time. With that said, Bangladesh too must implement heat‑response measures immediately, from investing in cooling centers to better heat‑resilient housing upgrades for informal settlements. There is also the need for a more humanitarian approach to the work itself, with mandatory rest breaks and shade for outdoor workers and the necessary medical support for workers exposed to chronic heat. Aspirations of becoming an equitable nation will never be realized if we fail to recognize that the majority of our working population continue to suffer and are unable to work to their full potential.