Located in tropical South Asia, Bangladesh is one of the world’s hottest countries, and certainly a haven for ultra-hot, highly polluted urban areas. But despite the heat, the government will begin imposing severe restrictions on electricity usage including air conditioning service, aiming to decrease resource dependence and improve the country’s stressed energy system.
Bangladesh is one of Asia’s poorest nations, and faces severe infrastructure and energy issues. The small South Asian nation is home to more than 150 million people, despite covering an area roughly the size of England. With monthly income levels averaging just $60, many Bangladesh residents treat air conditioning as an unknown luxury, using ceiling fans and ice-based cooling systems to keep their air comfortable. 
However, for Bangladesh’s higher classes the ban is a major setback. State power sources are severely limited, with the country’s massive population putting a strain on even the most ambitious infrastructure projects. While the government plans to improve the power situation and create more usable electricity, the five-hour daily air conditioning ban is likely to stay for at least a year.
Unfortunately, it couldn’t have come at a worse time. Bangladesh experiences a three-season tropical climate, with April and May temperatures hovering in the mid-30s. Humidity is also an issue for many residents – due to Bangladesh’s location within the South Asian tropical belt, damp air and monsoon rains can make air temperatures appear higher than recorded.