A World Bank report warns that rising heat is already costing Bangladesh about $1.78 billion in lost output, equal to roughly 0.4 percent of national income and affects homes, farms and shops. Heat is making people sick and cutting worker productivity, so shops, farms and small factories lose time and money. The study finds top daily temperatures have risen about 1.1 degrees Celsius and the felt temperature is up about 4.5 degrees, making heat harder to bear. Cities are under extra stress, with Dhaka showing a much faster rise in heat stress than other areas, and that trend affects people who work outdoors, older adults and those without cool homes. The report links higher heat to a rise in illnesses such as diarrhea, breathing problems, extreme tiredness and higher rates of depression and anxiety, and those illnesses lead to fewer workdays and lower incomes. In fact, researchers estimate that heat-related illness and lower performance wiped out about 25 million workdays, a clear sign that heat harms both families and the economy. The World Bank urges practical steps to reduce harm, calling for stronger health services, more shaded and green public spaces and better data collection on heat and its impacts. Experts point to solutions that also create jobs and improve daily life, like planting trees, building shaded parks, cooling schools and clinics, upgrading roofs and making public centers more comfortable. Other helpful steps are safer work schedules that avoid the hottest hours, giving outdoor workers breaks and water, and using simple warning systems so people know when to limit hard work. Farmers may benefit from shaded shelters, improved water access and plans that match work to cooler times of day, so harvests and labor are less harmed by heat. Health clinics can be strengthened to treat heat illnesses early, and local teams can teach families simple ways to stay safer, such as staying hydrated and avoiding heavy work in midday heat. Better data and weather records will help hospitals and city planners know where the risks are highest and where to place green spaces and cooling centers first. Many of the steps have been tested in other places and can be adapted locally, meaning progress can start quickly and grow over time with steady support. Officials and community groups are urged to work together to protect the most vulnerable people first, including older adults and women who often bear more risk from heat. While the costs already shown are large, the report offers a hopeful message: with focused action on health, cooling, data and finance, Bangladesh can lower future losses, keep people healthier and build cooler public spaces that create local jobs. It will also support small businesses and livelihoods.
