In search of breathable air
Dhaka’s unhealthy air quality remains a concern
It is quite alarming, if not as surprising, that Dhaka city has ranked fourth in the latest list of world cities with the worst air quality, as per the Air Quality Index (AQI). For a city to have "good" or "moderate" air quality, it will have to have an AQI score of zero to 100. An AQI score of up to 150 is likely harmful for sensitive groups, but anything above that may affect all members of the public. While the score varies from area to area in a country and across different times of day, the capital's AQI was found to be a staggering 189 on Saturday morning.
Dhaka's air quality has been a cause for concern for quite some time. The major sources of pollution are well-known: there are the construction sites littering almost every part of the city. Add to that the unfit and outdated vehicles continuously exuding fumes. And given the lack of rain during winter, dust from the streets also pollutes the air. Prolonged exposure to such pollutants can affect the health of not just vulnerable groups—children, elderly, or those with respiratory issues—but healthier individuals as well. But perhaps the main villain is the constellation of brick kilns and factories situated on the outskirts of the city, emitting toxic fumes constantly. Many of these are not built following proper designs or operated in line with the environmental rules.
A simple statistic can highlight the gravity of the situation: in 2019, around 1.7 lakh people had reportedly died due to air pollution in Bangladesh. Of these, 10,500 were infants. With the constant exposure to those pollutants, imagine how much of a fighting chance those affected by them will have against respiratory diseases like Covid-19.
The situation calls for an urgent undertaking if Dhaka is to make its air more breathable. The city authorities must find a way to stop or significantly reduce the effect of the pollutants. Regular spraying of water should be conducted in order to keep the dust on roads from rising. We must also get rid of the outdated vehicles emitting toxic fumes throughout the city. However, it is crucial that factories and brick kilns in the division and elsewhere are also made to follow environmental laws and are penalised for noncompliance. If urgent measures are not taken and if the polluters are allowed to get off scot-free, Dhaka's air quality will continue to be unhealthy for its residents.