Dhaka: A boiling cauldron

A difference of eight degree Celsius temperature between two places may mean that those may be thousands of kilometres apart. But believe it or not, this is a reality within this country and not at a long distance. Two separate studies carried out by the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) and Texas A and M University have come up with startling results. The first one reveals that the difference in temperature between the Dhaka city and a village in the lap of Nature is by as much as eight degree Celsisus. The other one concerns the five degree higher temperature inside Dhaka city's multi-storied flats than outside in the evening. Literally, it turns into a seething and boiling cauldron.

Although there is no mention if the variation of temperature is in the high summer, presumably that is the case. Whether the capital city and a village maintain equal difference in temperature between them in other seasons is not mentioned. It can be assumed that except in summer the difference in temperature is not so wide. At a time when global warming is a cause for concern, actually the high temperature draws greater attention and for reasons understandable.

In India heat wave has by now killed about 2,500 people. Bangladesh has been lucky enough not to endure the kind of scorching heat that takes away life. But if the country experiences a mean temperature of 30 to 34 degrees, Dhaka city will have the ill fate of smarting under 38 to 42 degree Celsius. But this adverse situation can be overcome to a large extent provided that the city planners and its inhabitants take care to restore the city's lungs.

By the city's lungs, its greenery and water bodies are referred to. Indiscriminate mayhem of trees and chaotic urban growth are to blame for the deteriorating situation. Despite the concrete jungle the city has turned into, it could surely obviate the adverse environmental impact if only the trees were retained or in place of the felled ones equal or more saplings were planted to replenish the deficit. At each large crossing of the city, both temperature and noise are much higher and louder than in other less crowded points. This difference can be instantly felt when one passes by a park or any other place full of trees in this city.

Urbanisation surely has its price. Streams of vehicles and rows of buildings with no trees to absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen in its place cause the heat all around to rise further here. There is hardly any provision for open space. People are huddling together in the minimum possible space, so are buildings in this city known for the highest concentration of people. There is no point imitating architecture of the western wintry countries. In tropical countries, there is need for high ceiling and space for air to circulate. All this is not taken into account now. Roof has come down in height from 11-13 feet to just nine feet. Moreover, today's flats have no provision for cornice and enough ventilation.

So, architectural change for the worse and lack of greenery have together made the room temperature and the surrounding intolerable in Dhaka city. Environment-friendly building design and planting of trees everywhere possible in this city and, wherever possible, creation of more parks can surely improve the condition.