Dhaka, Sept. 17 -- Rising temperatures are taking a mounting toll on Bangladesh, with heat-related illnesses and productivity losses led to a loss of 250 million workdays, costing the economy up to $1.78 billion - about 0.4 percent of GDP - in 2024, according to a World Bank report released Tuesday.

The "An Unsustainable Life: The Impact of Heat on Health and the Economy of Bangladesh," analyzed national temperature and humidity trends from 1976-2023 and draws from a new two-round 2024 household survey of more than 16,000 people.

Since 1980, Bangladesh's maximum temperature has risen by 1.1degC, while the "feels like" temperature has surged by 4.5degC, triggering a rise in health issues such as diarrhea, persistent cough, respiratory di...