As Dhaka’s skyline grows ever shinier with glass-covered towers, experts caution that the city is trapping more heat than ever before.
The rapid surge of high-rises wrapped in reflective glass has intensified urban temperatures, yet little attention is being paid to climate-adaptive design fit for Bangladesh’s tropical conditions, reports UNB.
Specialists note that sustainable design remains mostly absent in practice and regulation. The current publicly available versions of the Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC) 2015 and 2020 — still lack binding standards for glazing performance, including crucial parameters like U-value and solar heat gain coefficient.
Over the past decade, areas such as Gulshan, Banani, Dhanmondi, Motijheel, and Uttara have seen a boom in glass-fronted buildings, mirroring architectural styles from cities like Singapore and Dubai. However, environmental experts say the results are far from glamorous.
“Dhaka’s glass towers might look elegant, but they are silently amplifying the city’s heat problem,” said Dr Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumder, chairman of the Centre for Atmospheric Pollution Studies (CAPS).
“These buildings trap and emit solar radiation, worsening the heat island effect and raising the need for energy-intensive air conditioning,” he explained.
Majumder warned that Dhaka’s so-called modern buildings could soon turn the city into a “massive heat chamber” unless design strategies change.
“We need to rethink architecture through the lens of our climate shading, green roofs, and natural ventilation are far more sustainable options,” he added.
A recent CAPS study found that surface temperatures in glass-heavy zones such as Gulshan and Banani are 3–5°C higher than in greener residential areas.
Research from Stamford University’s Environmental Science Department also shows that 70–80% of new buildings in upscale neighbourhoods feature glass facades covering over 60% of their surface.
The city’s growing energy load tells the same story. A 2019 survey recorded over 100,000 air conditioners operating in just 1,068 Dhanmondi apartments, highlighting the immense pressure on Dhaka’s power grid.
A 2024 paper published in the Asia-Pacific Journal of Atmospheric Sciences found that the city’s urban heat island (UHI) intensity now averages 0.48°C, with daily peaks reaching 2.15°C rising by 0.21°C per decade since 1995.
Heatwaves and UHI effects are reinforcing each other, especially during the pre-monsoon and monsoon months, making summers increasingly unbearable.
Meanwhile, a modelling study by Seoul National University suggested that using “cool roofs” could lower afternoon air temperatures by 0.57°C during heatwave periods, while green roofs and vertical gardens could provide additional relief.
Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) officials told that new design guidelines are being reviewed to encourage heat-resilient materials, reflective coatings, and expanded tree cover in future projects.
For office workers, however, the problem is already palpable.
“By noon, our glass office feels like an oven,” said Shakil Ahmed, an employee in Gulshan. “Even powerful air conditioners fail to cope.”
The BNBC 2020, issued by the Ministry of Housing and Public Works, offers frameworks for materials and fire safety but falls short on climate-based facade standards. While it references “thermal insulating materials,” there are no binding clauses on solar heat control, reflectivity, or mandatory shading for tropical conditions. Urban planners say this gap in regulation allows glass facades to spread unchecked.
“The use of large glass panels has become a fashion statement rather than a functional choice,” said Adil Mohammed Khan, president of the Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP).
“They reflect and absorb heat, worsening local temperatures and forcing people to depend on air conditioners which, in turn, release more heat.”
He urged authorities to introduce clear facade policies defining which sides of buildings and what proportions can feature glass, alongside incentives for climate-responsive architecture.
“Our building code must move towards a Green Building framework suited to Bangladesh’s humid climate,” Adil added. “Features like shaded balconies, cross-ventilation, and local materials are far more sustainable than a wall of glass.”
Unless immediate measures are taken, experts warn, Dhaka’s glittering skyline could soon symbolize a city trapped in its own heat.
