We are gravely concerned about reports of premature deaths in our country caused by various pollutants and their harmful effects. Over 272,000 premature deaths occur in Bangladesh per year due to air pollution, unsafe water, poor sanitation and hygiene, and lead exposure, says a new report of the World Bank.
Environment analysis finds these factors responsible for the premature deaths annually. These environmental costs were equivalent to 17.6 percent of Bangladesh’s GDP in 2019.
This is in fact nothing new for the dwellers living in capital Dhaka and its adjacent cities that they start experiencing terrible dust pollution when winter approaches every year. The dust pollution turns acute in the capital Dhaka, Gazipur and Narayanganj cities during dry season, which is over three times higher than the permissible level.
The pollution level in the capital has already started reaching its climax due to uncontrolled discharge of dust from construction work and road digging, posing serious health risks to the city dwellers. On Friday, Dhaka’s air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 198. The air was classified as ‘unhealthy’.
Road dust becomes the biggest source of pollution in the capital, especially during the dry season for various reasons, including unplanned construction work, rundown roads. Earlier the High Court criticised the authorities concerned for their failure in taking effective measures to control air pollution in Dhaka and surrounding areas despite repeated directives.
Environmental costs were
equivalent to 17.6 percent
of Bangladesh’s GDP in 2019.
The Department of Environment (DoE), Dhaka North City Corporation, Dhaka South City Corporation, Gazipur City Corporation and Narayanganj City Corporation have not taken any effective steps to reduce air pollution yet. The city corporations are well aware that dust pollution intensifies every year during winter, but they have no action plan to deal with the terrible situation.
Apart from the city corporations, the DoE responsible for taking a proper plan to check dust pollution in the city is also reluctant in this regard. Air pollution still remains one of the topmost challenges for our country’s major cities.
Breathing polluted air has long been recognised as a factor for increasing a person’s chances of developing heart disease, chronic respiratory diseases, lung infections and cancer. Air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.
Besides, it is very much annoying that offensive smell is coming from the five rivers surrounding the capital Dhaka due to severe pollution. The five rivers - Buriganga, Shitalakshya, Balu, Turag and Dhaleshwari - and several canals encircling the Dhaka city have not been freed from pollution and illegal encroachment yet. Therefore, these rivers are now so polluted that their waters have appeared pitch black, emitting foul stench round the clock. In the circumstances, we have to keep in mind first the waste management.
Apart from these, noise pollution has turned acute in the capital Dhaka and three other metropolitan cities as it is going far beyond the permissible decibel level, putting the health of professionals working on the roads at high risk. Noise pollution, also known as sound pollution, causes various health problems, including hearing loss, headache and heart problems, according to health experts.
The government and non-government organisations will also have to conduct campaigns at different levels, beginning from the family to the state level, to raise awareness about air pollution, unsafe water, poor sanitation and hygiene, and lead exposure and their impact. These hazardous pollutions cannot be controlled effectively in the country without any agency dedicated to do the entire necessary tasks. The government agencies must take concerted efforts to this end immediately.