Heatwave costs Bangladesh $1.8b:WB

Extreme heat caused productivity losses of up to $1.8 billion in Bangladesh in 2024, equivalent to 0.3–0.4 percent of the country’s GDP, according to a World Bank report.

The report, titled “A Livable Future: Protecting Jobs and Growth from Extreme Heat in South Asia’s Cities,” said the economic impact becomes more severe when temperatures rise above 37°C.

Dhaka has been hit particularly hard, with extreme heat making around 3 percent of annual working hours unproductive, effectively wiping out the equivalent of 465,000 full-time jobs every year, the report said.

The World Bank warned that heat-related productivity losses could more than double by 2080, with Dhaka projected to lose 7.4 percent of its productive working hours.

The report also highlighted risks for Bangladesh’s readymade garment (RMG) sector, saying heat stress could threaten billions of dollars in export earnings across South Asia’s apparel industry.

Citing analysis by the International Labour Organization (ILO), International Finance Corporation (IFC), and Cornell University’s Global Labor Institute, the report said Bangladesh, Pakistan, Vietnam and Cambodia’s apparel sectors could lose up to $65.8 billion in export earnings by 2030 if heat stress is not addressed.

During the April 2026 heatwave in Bangladesh, nationwide power demand stood at 16,237 megawatts (MW) against generation of just 13,988 MW – a gap of over 2,200 MW that, combined with fuel supply constraints, forced rolling load-shedding across the country.

For industrial units without captive power and many small businesses dependent on electricity, such outages can mean a complete work stoppage.

The World Bank said heat stress is also increasing risks for workers’ health and safety, particularly affecting low-income workers, informal workers, women, elderly people and children.

It recommended investments in heat-resilient cities, better working conditions, and climate-focused financing to reduce economic losses.