Experts attribute situation to transboundary air pollution, unplanned development and construction works SM Najmus Sakib | 28.03.2021
DHAKA, Bangladesh
Air pollution has been taking its toll on Bangladesh for successive years, causing lives and economic losses as well as environmental hazards linked to pollution, making experts fearful for the days ahead.
According to available studies and research, air pollution-related deaths and diseases have been on the rise in recent years, exacerbating people s plight, particularly children, women, and the elderly.
Experts attribute this situation to transboundary air pollution, unplanned development and construction works, an absence of a central management system, a lack of coordination among government agencies, and lax monitoring.
File Photo
Dhaka’s air has become heavily polluted with dust due to constant construction work without following any environment safety guidelines.
Winter is a dry season which creates huge dust in Dhaka city - the roadside plants covered in thick layer of dust show the extent of the pollution.
City dwellers are living at high health risk of dust pollution as the megacity ranks the top among cities with worst air quality during the winter.
The main sources of air pollution include emission from faulty vehicles, especially diesel-run vehicles, brick kilns and dust from roads and construction sites and toxic fumes from industries.
Transboundary flow pollutes Dhaka air
19th January, 2021 10:37:08
A transboundary flow of air from the highly-polluted countries is contributing significantly to the pollution and degradation of air quality in Dhaka city.
Particulate-matter pollutants sweep Dhaka city from South Asia throughout dry, monsoon and winter seasons through different routes, the Environment and Social Development Organisation (ESDO) has found in a recent study.
“Northwesterly winds dominantly contribute to the PM pollutants during winter (November–January), whereas mixed wind directions are normally observed in pre-monsoon season (February–April),” it said.
Major routes of wind that carry particulate-matter pollutants towards Dhaka are the middle of India and entered the Dhaka city from the west, air from Iran and the Middle East, several from north Europe, travelled with good height, over Nepal, and enter from the north, some of the wind from India with a long flight and shorter paths and ente
Non-woven bags more harmful than poly bags
7th January, 2021 10:30:26
Nowadays non-woven bags are being used indiscriminately for many purposes, but they are more harmful than polythene bags to public health and environment.
Non-woven shopping bags are now reigning supreme in the country, which people take as alternative to harmful polythene bags. Non-woven bags look safe but they are more hazardous, experts say.
Non-woven bags are made of spun and bond polypropylene fiber. They are soft and air-permeable. Non-woven bags are produced from non-biodegradable plastics. They are manufactured on a machine by spreading rolls of plastic, environmentalists say.
Lack of proper monitoring by the authorities concerned has been blamed for the rampant use of the hazardous non-woven bags in the country, they opined.
Dhaka world’s 4th most polluted city
Air pollution affects health, economy, ecology in Bangladesh
Staff Correspondent
28th December, 2020 09:59:32
Bangladesh ranked as the 2nd most polluted country while Dhaka ranked as the 4th most polluted city in the world as per Air Quality Index (AQI) value measured over the past 11 months, according to a study of ESDO.
The study on air pollution in Bangladesh is translating the health loss to economic and ecological impacts.
Environment and Social Development Organization-ESDO disclosed the study on “Air Pollution in Bangladesh: Outdoor vs. Indoor: Sources and Penalties” on Monday at a press briefing through virtual platform Zoom.