Bangladeshi Students Confined Indoors as Heatwave Leads to School Shutdowns

As Bangladesh grapples with a historic heatwave, schools have been forced to close, leaving students like Mohua Akter Nur struggling to study in the sweltering heat of their homes. The nation prays for relief from temperatures that have soared to over 42 degrees Celsius, with the crisis highlighting the harsh realities of climate change.

In the heart of South Asia, Bangladesh is currently experiencing one of its most severe heatwaves on record, a stark reminder of the escalating climate crisis gripping the region. With temperatures climbing between 4 to 5 degrees Celsius above the long-term average, the government has taken the drastic step of closing schools to protect millions of students from the oppressive heat.

Mohua Akter Nur, a high school student in Dhaka, finds herself caught in the crosshairs of this environmental emergency. Her home, a cramped one-room abode she shares with her family, offers little respite from the heat that has made the city streets almost uninhabitable. "The heat is intolerable. Our school is shut, but I can't study at home. The electric fan does not cool us," Mohua expressed to AFP, encapsulating the plight of countless students across the nation.

The situation is exacerbated by frequent power outages, turning homes into sweltering boxes with no escape. Mohua's mother, Rumana Islam, describes the heat as "unbearable," a sentiment echoed by many who find the urban environment of Dhaka particularly stifling compared to the countryside, where at least the shade of trees offers some solace.

This heatwave is not an isolated incident but part of a disturbing trend. Extensive scientific research has confirmed that climate change is intensifying heatwaves, making them longer, more frequent, and more severe. Asia, as noted by the United Nations, was the most affected region by climate and weather hazards in 2023, with Bangladesh being no exception.

The educational disruption caused by the heatwave is profound. Students are deprived of valuable learning time, and the continuity of their education is jeopardized. The government's decision to reopen schools on April 28 is a temporary measure, with the hope that temperatures will recede. However, the long-term implications of such climate events on the educational system are a growing concern.

The heatwave has also prompted a collective response from the community, with thousands gathering in mosques and rural fields to pray for cooler weather. This communal spirit underscores the human aspect of the climate crisis, where hope and resilience shine through even in the most challenging times.