We are feeling the heat like never before. The heatwave has become the most important concern in the lives of people in Dhaka. They are scorching under the sun and also enduring unbearable heat at home. Unfortunately, the situation is expected to worsen.

Over the years, politicians seem to have considered environmental issues as 'fringe'. They always appear to be more interested in matters like economics and legal rights, treating environmental concerns as somewhat 'romantic'.

This is even more pronounced in poorer countries. It is true that the priority for poor people is material wealth, as they have no other way to improve or even salvage their lives. At the same time, it is the wealthy individuals and countries who are decimating nature more than anyone else.

The cornucopia of materialism and unchecked consumerism is the chief reason for destroying nature. Unfortunately, it is the poor who bear the brunt.

Therefore, politicians must prioritize environmental issues. The fight must be two-fold: domestically, where ecology and habitats must be protected through sustainable development, and internationally, where poorer nations must unite to compel richer nations to compensate them and reduce environmental degradation.

However, the fight is extremely tough. For this, democracy is paramount. Rulers must have a proper mandate from the people to whom they will be accountable. In Bangladesh, which is under severe threat from sea level rise and extreme weather, the situation is dire. There is no democracy, and those at the helm are destroying the environment for their own profit.

But the heatwave is making us feel that this is a fight for existence. Resurrecting democracy is our only hope to save our country and its people.

The Boxer: The author is one of the indefatigable working-class Bangladeshis who have been trying to change the fate of the nation but were betrayed by the ruling elites and autocrats. The name is inspired by a character in George Orwell's 1945 novel Animal Farm.