Time-bound action plan a must: speakers
Speakers at a roundtable yesterday called upon the government to undertake a time-bound action plan to curb air pollution in the capital and elsewhere.
They said sources of air pollution were well identified thanks to different studies but effective measures to stop pollution are required.
The Department of Environment (DoE) in association with Bangla daily Samakal arranged the roundtable on “Beat Air Pollution” at Jatiya Press Club, marking World Environment Day.
Dhaka has been ranked the second most polluted capital city in the world in terms of air pollution, according to recent global study.
Addressing the roundtable, Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association Chief Executive Syeda Rizwana Hasan said many countries have addressed air pollution and Bangladesh can do it too.
“Concrete action plan is what’s required to this end,” she said, adding that tree plantation and use of safe burners could be a way to achieve the goal.
Brick kilns are responsible for air pollution. However, there are several factors behind air pollution which should be addressed as well, said Prof Abdus Salam of Dhaka University.
The government has to set a target on how many years it needs to reduce air pollution to permissible level, he said.
Climate change expert Dr Ainun Nishat said some effective measures to reduce air pollution could be covering construction materials and watering on roads regularly.
Referring to Rajshahi and the Indian city Chennai, he said if those cities could reduce air pollution then Dhaka should be able to achieve that goal.
Samakal Acting Editor Mustafiz Shafi said a collective initiative is needed to reduce air pollution.
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry Secretary Abdullah Al Mohsin Chowdhury, DoE Director General AKM Rafique Ahmed and Clean Air and Sustainable Environment project director SM Munjurul Hannan Khan also spoke.
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