Rein in air pollution immediately
Environmentalists and city planners at a discussion yesterday urged the government to take strict measures to check air pollution in Dhaka immediately as it has become one of the biggest threats to public health nowadays.
They suggested that the authority should increase green coverage in the city through tree plantation and rooftop gardening, restrict pollution caused by vehicles and construction sites, and punish the people who are responsible for it.
Three non-government organisations -- Arannyak Foundation, Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association and IUCN Bangladesh -- jointly organised the event at the Department of Environment auditorium in the capital, on the occasion of World Environment Day which was observed on June 5.
Citing recent studies, eminent environmentalist and water resources expert Prof Ainun Nishat said Dhaka has ranked second among cities with the worst air pollution, which is alarming.
“We can prevent the pollution through tree plantation. Infrastructures should be built keeping the greenery intact,” he added.
SM Munjurul Hannan Khan, an additional secretary of the environment ministry, said air pollution has worsened recently, and it is going beyond people’s control gradually.
“In the future people may have to carry an oxygen cylinder [for breathing] along with a water bottle,” he added.
Adil Mohammed Khan, general secretary of Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP); Abdullah Al Mohsin Chowdhury, secretary of the environment ministry; AKM Rafique Ahmed, director general of the Department of Environment; Raquibul Amin, country representative of IUCN Bangladesh, also spoke at the programme.
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