Muhammad Mainuddin Patwary , Asma Safia Disha, Dana Sikder, Shahreen Hasan, Juvair Hossan, Mondira Bardhan, Sharif Mutasim Billah, Mehedi Hasan, Mahadi Hasan, Md Zahidul Haque, Sardar Al Imran, Md Pervez Kabir, Md. Najmus Sayadat Pitol, Marvina Rahman Ritu, Chameli Saha, Matthew Browning , Md Salahuddin

Urban heatwaves are a growing concern, especially in South Asian countries grappling with rapid urbanization and limited resources. While prior studies focused on the biophysical aspects of urban heat islands in this region, there is limited evidence of people’s understanding of urban heat stress and its health consequences. This study aimed to investigate the perceived urban heat risk and associated health impacts in Bangladesh. A cross-sectional study involving 898 participants from eight major cities in Bangladesh were included in the study. A substantial proportion of individuals regularly experienced urban heat stress but have limited awareness of heatwave reduction measures. Moreover, perceived physiological impacts were found to be more severe than psychological impacts. Urban heat also moderately affected daily activities, particularly transportation, and sleep/rest. Factors like gender, home cooling systems, and spending time outdoors intensified heat's physiological and psychological impacts, while students, highly educated individuals, residents of traditional katcha houses, and those in good health experienced milder effects. Furthermore, individuals over 30 years of age and employed individuals exhibited greater knowledge about heat impact reduction but less affected by psychological impacts. These findings can inform targeted interventions and guidelines for heat mitigation and adaptation in South Asian cities.