Why Dhaka grapples with polluted air?

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Udisa Islam
Published : 04:00, Mar 08, 2019 | Updated : 13:13, Mar 08, 2019

Dust pollution reaches an alarming stage in Dhaka. COURTESYSince Bangladesh is an equatorial country, the air is dry with plenty of dust. On top of this, there is evidence of terrible air pollution in the city. As per an international research report, Dhaka stands second in the list of most polluted cities in the world.
The brick kilns are responsible for rising air pollution. It’s believed that around five thousand low-quality brick kilns contribute to 58 per cent of the city’s pollution.
A recent report by IQ Air, Air visual and Green peace identifies Bangladesh as a leading polluting country with Dhaka placed at 17th spot among 30 most polluted cities worldwide.
The parliamentary committee for environment, forest and climate change have recommended issuing a health alert. Committee president, Saber Hossain Chowdhury, said, “Pollution level beyond 300 is dangerous and in Dhaka and Narayanganj it reached above 400.”
Keeping this in mind, I recommended health emergency, he added.
Environment specialists say that sub-standard brick kilns have developed all over the country and many of these are without approval.
VC of Eastern University, Sahid Akhtar Hussain, says, “Our air has seven pollutants, Carbon Monoxide, Sulphur Di-Oxide, Nitrous Oxide, PSC and others.”
“The air pollution falls during monsoon but rises in winter as harmful particles increase.”
Blaming the cement factories, he said, “The situation is still not serious; the government has to take initiatives.”
Professor of Jahangirnagar University, Dr Amir Hossain Bhuiyan, said, “Pollution is rising due to unplanned urbanisation and industrialisation.”
Sulphur dioxide emanating from the brick kilns is vitiating the air; consequently, a wide variety of ailments, ranging from lung infection to respiratory complications, are taking place.
President of the chest ailments department, Dr A K M Mosharraf Hossain says, “We must ensure that regulations to prevent pollution are followed.”

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