A taskforce will be formed very soon to control air pollution apart from declaring certain areas as "no-brickfield zones".
Syeda Rizwana Hasan, adviser for the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, said on Thursday that the government is making every effort to control air pollution.
As part of this initiative, a taskforce will be formed very soon which will work until the next monsoon.
Additionally, certain areas are set to be declared as "no brickfield zones", she added.
Air pollution cannot be resolved overnight, so citizens are being encouraged to wear masks, the adviser said.
She further informed that old vehicles would be removed within the next six months and the police have been instructed to restrict open trucks from entering the capital.
She shared these updates during an inter-ministerial meeting held at the Local Government Division's conference room in the Secretariat.
The meeting focused on strategies to combat air pollution in Dhaka and surrounding areas during the dry season.
Rizwana stated that sources of air pollution are being identified, and measures are being implemented.
Strict steps are being taken to control dust from construction work, emissions from brick kilns and vehicle exhaust.
She emphasised the importance of raising public awareness, enforcing laws, and enhancing monitoring systems to address the issue effectively.
She further instructed stakeholders to spray water to reduce dust during construction, cover construction materials, and use protective barriers.
Regular use of vacuum trucks for cleaning roads and prompt road repairs were also highlighted as necessary.
Additionally, she stressed the need for planting grass along roadsides, ensuring designated waste disposal areas and banning the burning of waste.
At the meeting, Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, advisor to the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development, and Cooperatives, said that initiatives would be taken to recover canals and develop open spaces as playgrounds.
He also emphasised the need for integrated efforts to improve the country's environmental quality.
The meeting was chaired by the acting secretary of the Local Government Division and attended by officials from various ministries, agencies, and expert representatives. It was decided in the meeting that effective laws would be implemented to fight pollution and regular monitoring will be carried out.
All necessary steps, including regular spraying of water, would be taken to control dust.
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