Dhaka Bureau: Air pollution in Narayanganj, Gazipur, Savar areas around Dhaka has continuously reached extremely alarming levels. Yet there is a lack of proper initiatives at the state level to reduce this air pollution. Even in the philosophy of urban planning and development, the picture of development is being drawn by pushing the environment behind, the state agencies have to fix the development strategy while maintaining the environment. This was said by the speakers at the ‘IPD Urbanization and Development Review’ event titled “Capital’s Disturbed Air: Existing Perspectives and Actions for Urbanization” organized online by the Institute for Planning and Development (IPD) on Saturday (January 28).
The speakers said that all development activities including construction of infrastructure and buildings in the entire country including urban areas must be ensured with proper project management and accountability to prevent air pollution. The above opinions have emerged from the experts related to environment, planning and development. In order to protect our overall public health, environment and biodiversity, recognizing the existing critical situation of silent killer air pollution, crimes like air and environment pollution should be taken into account as public health crimes and necessary amendments should be made in the environmental laws and appropriate penalties and punishments should be formulated. Also, the persons, groups and organizations involved in pollution should be brought under the law quickly.
In the keynote address of the program, IPD Executive Director Professor Dr. Adil Muhammad Khan said, uncontrolled dust, vehicular smoke and free movement of unfit vehicles, excessive increase in the number of private vehicles including motorcycles, smoke from brick kilns, uncontrolled digging of roads, construction of infrastructure and mega projects, industrial smoke and Air pollution in Dhaka and its surrounding areas is continuously increasing due to waste, mismanagement of solid waste and burning of waste, etc., which is most prevalent during the dry season.
According to the IPD, the filling of wetlands and the reduction of green areas and greenery in Dhaka and its surrounding areas, uncontrolled construction of infrastructure and buildings, overpopulation of the city and environment, infrastructure and development activities, natural disasters in parks, gardens and playgrounds. Air pollution has gone to uncontrollable levels due to taking concrete based development projects destroying the environment, uncontrolled speed of vehicles etc. There is no enforcement of the Road Excavation Policy; The role of related organizations in enforcing environmental laws, regulations and policies is very weak. Influential people are ignoring the environment by setting up businesses or industries and indiscriminately polluting the air.
In the event, IPD advisor Professor Dr. Aktar Mahmud said the air quality in Narayanganj area exceeded the danger level even more than in Dhaka, with the average daily air quality index (AQI) of 400 or more in the entire month of January. Air pollution in Narayanganj and Gazipur areas including Dhaka has become a serious threat to public health. Why we failed to enact effective clean air laws, who did not allow them to be enacted – these are the questions policy makers must answer. He emphasized on effective projects, construction and urban management to prevent air pollution.
IPD director Mohammad Ariful Islam said, air pollution is not only a health disaster, but it hinders our economic development and reduces GDP. To reduce air pollution in urban areas, he emphasized on regular monitoring of air pollution along with landscaping and greening in uncovered areas.
Md. Jamaluddin, professor of environmental science department of Jahangirnagar University, said that the average life expectancy of people in Bangladesh is decreasing by 7 to 8 years due to air pollution. Describing air pollution as more dangerous than deadly diseases like AIDS, he said, without political will at the highest level, it will not be possible to reduce air pollution.
Md. Moniruzzaman, an environmental researcher at Canada’s St. Mary’s University, said that the level of air pollution in Dhaka, Rajshahi and Khulna in Bangladesh is also alarming. All over Bangladesh, only 11 points are measuring the air quality in the state, which is insufficient to determine scientific research and action to control air pollution, he suggested to increase their number.
Bapar Joint Secretary Maruf Hossain said that there is an opportunity to create examples in various government infrastructure construction projects to control air pollution. He commented that due to the excessive use of air conditioners, greenhouse gas emissions are increasing and pollution is increasing. He suggested increasing pressure on the policy makers to build public opinion against pollution by investigating the reasons why the mass movement of common people to control air and environmental pollution is slowing down day by day.
Environmental expert Dr. Farhadur Reza said, due to air pollution, a ‘dust dome layer’ is forming on the surface of our sky, which can cause health risks for us in the long run. In countries like Japan, electricity is produced from waste through advanced technology and strict monitoring. He expressed fear that due to the lack of capacity of such initiatives in our country, environmental pollution may increase due to the initiative of generating electricity from waste.
Development expert Md. Redwanur Rahman said, to prevent air pollution, 30% of Thailand’s capital city of Bangkok was afforested. Such greening and afforestation in Dhaka and nearby cities.
