The government has doubled the permissible level of particulate matters in the air in order to portray low air pollution in Bangladesh, environmental experts alleged on Monday.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has reduced the standard level of air to 5.0 micrograms from 10 micrograms considering the public health hazard.
But the government in the 'Air Pollution Rules 2022' raised it to 35 micrograms from 15 micrograms, the experts maintained.
They urged the government to review its decision and revert it to at least the previous 15 micrograms.
Speakers made the call at a roundtable styled 'Role of Renewable Energy in Air and Energy Development' co-hosted by the Centre for Atmospheric Pollution Studies (CAPS) and the Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP) held at the BIP headquarters.
CAPS chairman Prof Dr Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumder presented a keynote at the programme.
He recommended reverting to the previous standard of 15 micrograms in the Air Pollution (Control) Rules 2022.
The air quality in Bangladesh is much higher compared to other countries in the world, Prof Majumder said, adding that the standard of thermal power plant emissions is also high.
Speakers at the event criticised development partners for not following the global standard in Bangladesh, which they maintain in their own countries.
Prof Majumder suggested that the use of renewable energy be ensured as an alternative to fossil fuels for the improvement of air quality and energy.
He also recommended keeping all coal, oil and gas-based thermal power plants under the red category as before.
Mohammad Fazle Reza Sumon of BIP urged the government to amend the standard of pollutants in pollution control in sync with the WHO guideline and standard.
Institute for Planning and Development executive director Prof Adil Mohammad Khan said, "There is no substitute for renewable energy in air pollution control and energy security."
Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) chief executive Syeda Rizwana Hasan said global air pollution standard should be the same.
But considering the overall context of the country's environment, she observed, its own roadmap and effective plan should be formulated.
"There is no scope to consider the Air Pollution Control Rules-2022 ineffective. It has some flaws, but we have to work on the positive aspects of the rules," she mentioned.
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