Bangladesh: Extreme heat kicks 33 million children out of schools

On Wednesday, thousands of Muslims in the country gathered in mosques and rural fields to pray for rain.

“Life has become unbearable due to lack of rains… Poor people are suffering immensely,” Islamic cleric Muhammad Abu Yusuf told AFP news agency.

Mr Yusuf led a morning prayer service for 1,000 in the central portion of the capital Dhaka on Wednesday.

Bangladesh’s weather authorities expect the extreme heat to continue for at least another week.

Hospitals and clinics have been asked to prepare for a higher patient load due to heat-related illnesses such as fever and headache.

Patients suffering from heatstroke will be admitted in air-conditioned wards, Health Minister Samanta Lal Sen said earlier this week.

“Leaders need to act now to urgently reduce warming temperatures, as well as factoring children – particularly those affected by poverty, inequality and discrimination – into decision making and climate finance,” Mr Sengupta said.

Unicef has also warned of the “grave risks” that such high temperatures pose to young children, particularly newborns and infants.