22pc deaths caused by environmental pollution

Speakers at a seminar yesterday said referring to a World Bank study that environment pollution is responsible for 22 percent of all deaths from diseases in Bangladesh.

They said half of the deaths attributed to environmental factors are caused by indoor and outdoor air pollution.

The international seminar styled "Air Pollution: Perspective Dhaka", jointly organised by the Franco-Bangladesh Association of Scholars and Trainees (FBAST) and the Embassy of France in Bangladesh, was held at Dhaka Sheraton Hotel.

"Dhaka's air quality is among the worst in the world," said Dr Zia Wadud, assistant professor at department of civil engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet). "Particulates are the worst pollutant," he said.

World Bank's environmental and social unit representative M Khaliquzzaman said, reducing environmental risks could increase the national income by 3.5 percent and it is often overlooked.

"Studies show that air quality in the city is best during the rainy season and at its worst during the winter," he said.

The speakers also said converting vehicles to compressed natural gas (CNG) system has been a big boon for the environment.

"Once all the vehicles are converted to CNG, the benefits and improvements will be much higher," said Dr Zia Wadud.

Other speakers at the seminar stressed the need for enhanced monitoring activities, identification of the sources of pollution and framing of relevant, effective set of laws and policies to keep air pollution under control.

They also expressed concerns about the health of traffic police officials who get exposed to immense air pollution every day.

Speaking as the chief guest, French Ambassador to Bangladesh HEM Charley Causeret said it is time to have this discussion with Copenhagen Climate Conference weeks away.

"In Dhaka, air pollution has now gone higher than in Mexico. Cases of children suffering from asthma and bronchitis have increased. Brickyards, dust from construction sites and old vehicles are the major sources of this phenomenon," he said.

"Despite important measures such as the phasing out of petrol driven auto rickshaws and their replacement with new versions using CNG, the density of airborne matter is the highest during the winter time," said the ambassador.

Airparif Deputy Director Karine Leger, National Institute of Diseases of the Chest Associate Professor Dr Asif Mustaba Mahmud, Buet Professor ABM Badruzzaman and FBAST President Md Liaquat Ali Khan also addressed the discussion.