The city’s air pollution crisis has spread to other major urban areas in Bangladesh due to rapid urbanization and unchecked commercial activities. According to the AQI, air quality is considered “moderate” when particle pollution values range between 50 and 100, but prolonged outdoor exertion may still affect sensitive individuals. When the AQI rises above 101, the air becomes increasingly harmful, with values between 201 and 300 classified as “very unhealthy” and readings over 301 deemed “hazardous,” posing severe health risks.
Citizens have long attributed the worsening air quality to the negligence of authorities who have failed to recognize the gravity of the issue. Sharif Jamil, General Secretary of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon, warned that air pollution could soon lead to a humanitarian crisis.
He blamed ongoing mega construction projects for exacerbating the problem, highlighting the lack of compliance with environmental standards followed in developed countries. He also criticized the failure to implement the drafted Clean Air Act, stressing the need for enforcement of existing laws.
The impact of air pollution is particularly insidious due to the prevalence of PM2.5 particles—airborne particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrometers. These particles are invisible to the naked eye but can penetrate deep into the lungs, leading to long-term health issues, including respiratory problems in children. Despite numerous initiatives to tackle air pollution, little progress has been made.
Dhaka is among the top five metropolises with the most particulate pollution and polluted air alone, responsible for 17.6% of the risk of mortality and disability.
A study found that between 2012 and 2018, waterbodies and vegetation fell by 2% and 5.3%, and construction and bare land increased by 4% and 3.4%, respectively. Reduced vegetation and waterbodies might result in an increase in barren land and built-up areas. Numerous industrial sites and the unlawful acquisition of canals may also contribute to the growth of barren land.
The study also found that the variation in PM2.5 levels correlated with land use characteristics and landscape metrics, which was one of the primary goals of this study. Vegetation and waterbodies had a negative correlation with the PM2.5 variation, i.e., with the increase of vegetation and waterbodies, the variation of PM2.5 decreased. On the other hand, bare land and built-up had a positive correlation with the PM2.5 variation, i.e., with the increase of bare land and built-up, the variation of PM2.5 had increased.
Initiatives that yield nothing
From 2010 to 2019, approximately 300 government officials traveled abroad under the World Bank-funded Clean Air and Sustainable Energy (CASE) project to study air pollution and its effects.
However, a CASE project review revealed that funds were misallocated, with part of the budget used to expand the Department of Environment’s headquarters rather than address pollution directly. The project, which succeeded the earlier Air Quality Management Project (AQMP), focused on reducing emissions from brick kilns and diesel-run vehicles. While some fixed chimney brick kilns were converted to modern zigzag kilns, the number of kilns increased from 4,959 in 2013 to around 8,000 in 2018, with most still relying on outdated technology.
The AQMP, launched in 2000 with a budget of $77.54 million, had identified vehicles, small industries, brick kilns, biomass incinerators, and road dust as primary sources of air pollution.
Although the project achieved some success in installing 26 air quality monitoring stations nationwide, it failed to ensure sustainable operations or address the root causes of pollution effectively. The CASE project, which replaced AQMP in 2010, received $87.2 million in funding over nine years but missed its core objectives.
Legal efforts to address air pollution have also fallen short. In 2019, after the expiration of the CASE project, a writ petition was filed with the High Court seeking directives for implementing anti-air pollution measures.
The court issued multiple directives, including covering construction materials, using enclosed vehicles for waste transport, sprinkling water on roads, and removing unfit vehicles. However, these orders were largely ignored.
The only significant improvement in air quality occurred during the pandemic-induced lockdowns when industrial and vehicular activities stopped.
Professor Abdus Salam of Dhaka University noted that the anti-pollution measures taken so far, such as converting outdated brick kilns, did not address other major sources of pollution.
He emphasized the need for coordinated efforts and effective policies to tackle the multifaceted crisis. Without immediate and sustained action, Bangladesh risks facing severe public health and environmental consequences.
*Banner image by Sadiqur Rahman
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