Bangladesh in 2024: A Year of Climate Extremes and Displacement 

Severe Cyclonic Storm Remal continuing to approach the Ganges Delta region during the afternoon of 26 May 2024 | VIIRS imagery from NOAA’s NOAA-20 Satellite

In 2024, Bangladesh faced a series of severe climate-related challenges that profoundly affected its population and infrastructure. 

In April and May 2024, Bangladesh experienced nationwide heatwaves, with temperatures soaring to unprecedented levels. These extreme conditions posed significant health risks, particularly to children, leading to the closure of schools across the country for up to two weeks. The heatwaves disrupted the education of approximately 33 million children, highlighting the immediate impact of climate change on daily life. 

In late May 2024, Cyclone Remal struck the coastal regions of Bangladesh with devastating force. The cyclone resulted in the tragic loss of at least 20 lives and forced approximately 800,000 residents to evacuate their homes. The storm’s powerful winds and heavy rainfall led to extensive damage, including the destruction of over 35,000 houses and significant disruptions to the power supply, leaving more than 2.7 million people without electricity. 

The monsoon season brought further hardship, with severe flooding affecting northern regions of the country. In October 2024, heavy rains and upstream torrents led to the displacement of over 100,000 individuals and resulted in at least five fatalities. The floods submerged vast areas, destroying homes and infrastructure, and severely impacting agriculture, particularly rice fields. 

The cumulative effect of these climate events severely disrupted the education system. Beyond the heatwave-induced school closures, subsequent natural disasters, including Cyclone Remal and the monsoon floods, led to prolonged interruptions in schooling. UNICEF reported that up to 18.4 million people were affected by the floods, including 7 million children, exacerbating the challenges faced by the education sector. 

Bangladesh is experiencing a growing migration crisis as climate change worsens, with rising sea levels making low-lying areas uninhabitable. Climate impacts, combined with socio-economic vulnerabilities, are forcing many to relocate, particularly to Dhaka. Over the past decade, disasters have displaced millions, at least temporarily. The World Bank projects that by 2050, up to 19.9 million people in Bangladesh could be internally displaced due to climate change. 

In response to these escalating climate challenges, Bangladesh’s interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, addressed the United Nations climate talks in November 2024. He criticized wealthy nations for their significant contributions to global warming and emphasized the urgent need for financial support to combat the climate crisis. Yunus highlighted the disproportionate impact of climate change on countries like Bangladesh, which are among the most vulnerable yet least responsible for global emissions. 

These events underscore the pressing need for comprehensive climate adaptation and mitigation strategies in Bangladesh. The country’s experiences in 2024 serve as a stark reminder of the immediate and tangible impacts of climate change on vulnerable nations. 

Read more about health risks here.  

Read more about heat stress here.  

Read more about extreme weather here.