The average annual temperature in Mymensingh division has risen by 1.02°C over the past 14 years, according to data from the Bangladesh Meteorological Department.
The latest figures show that the division’s average temperature stood at 30.70°C in 2025, up from 29.68°C in 2011.
The temperature reached 30.90°C in 2023 before falling slightly to 30.52°C in 2024. It rose again last year, raising concerns over the growing impact of heat on public health, agriculture, water resources, and biodiversity.
Experts attribute the rise to both global warming and local factors such as deforestation, unplanned urbanisation, the filling of water bodies, industrialisation and vehicle emissions.
Professor Murad Ahmed Faruk of Bangladesh Agricultural University’s Institute of Environmental Science and Disaster Management said rising temperatures were affecting human health, agriculture, water resources, biodiversity, industry and the economy.
He said urban development and industrialisation were taking place without adequate “heat-sensitive planning.”
“Reducing the number of vehicles, lowering dependence on fuel and prioritising climate-smart agricultural practices can help bring temperatures to a tolerable level,” he said.
Professor Mrinal Kanti Chowdhury of the Department of Geology at Jamalpur University of Science and Technology said deforestation, unplanned urbanisation and indiscriminate filling of water bodies were contributing to the rise in temperature.
“Unless we increase the number of water bodies, temperatures could rise by another one to two degrees, which would be a serious concern,” he said.
Ishrat Jahan Eva, a lecturer in the same department, said excessive or insufficient rainfall caused by changes in the natural environment was already affecting agriculture.
“Instead of covering everything with concrete, we need to move towards a greener environment,” she said.
Sheikh Md Nazmul Huda, director of the Department of Environment’s Mymensingh divisional office, said global warming, brick kilns, unfit vehicles and emissions from industrial facilities were also contributing to the problem.
He said the department was working to control environmental pollution from these sources.
The rising heat is also causing growing discomfort among residents.
Rifat Molla, a resident of Jamalpur town, said there were few places where people could escape the heat while working outdoors.
“The heat is unbearable. It feels even hotter in the city, but we have to work in the sun. It was never this hot before. The heat is increasing day by day,” he said.
Md Mahfuzur Rahman Sohan, assistant director of Jamalpur General Hospital, advised people to drink plenty of water, coconut water or oral saline during periods of extreme heat.
He also advised people to avoid unnecessary exposure to sunlight, use umbrellas when outdoors and wipe their bodies regularly to stay cool.
Experts have warned that without effective measures, the annual average temperature in the Mymensingh region could reach between 31.06°C and 31.21°C by 2030.
