Air pollution in Dhaka

AIR pollution in Dhaka has made it one of the worst livable cities in the world. The city today is covered with dust which coupled with fog has made things worse this winter. The level of air pollution actually started to turn worse in 1990 and by 2015 it reached a record level. The amount of pollutants in the air also recorded unprecedented rise in some cities of India and China over the years and Bangladesh is only next to these countries. This is evident from a report titled Global Air Pollution Situation-2017 following a climate survey jointly organised by United States-based research organisation 'Health Effects Institute' and 'Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation'. The report also says that 122, 400 people die every year in Bangladesh due to air pollution.

Another survey by a US-based organisation, says that seismic pollution in the air is at least three times higher than the acceptable level. Respiratory and lung problems are quite commonplace in Dhaka now and very high level of air pollution is mostly responsible for both.

It is therefore vital that a comprehensive programme be undertaken to reduce air pollution and make Dhaka green again. It would not be a difficult task if both public and private enterprises join hands together.

Md. Monjurur Rahman

Department of Political Science

Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur

[email protected]