The air quality of Dhaka was mostly ‘unhealthy’ to ‘very unhealthy’ throughout January this year, according to the observation of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (Bapa).
The observation was unveiled at a press conference organised at the initiative of the organisation on hazardous air pollution in Dhaka, demanding emergency measures for public health and disaster management at the Sagar-Runi Auditorium of Dhaka Reporters' Unity in the capital’s Segunbagicha on Thursday. The press conference was presided over by Sharif Jamil, General Secretary of Bapa. The keynote address was delivered by Prof Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumder, Joint Secretary of Bapa and Director of Centre for Atmospheric Pollution Studies (CAPS) of Stamford University Bangladesh.
Prof Ahmed Kamruzzaman Majumder said that one of the main causes of air pollution in Dhaka is lack of urban planning, weakness of law and limited law enforcement.
He said, “The analysis of AQI data from 2016 to 2021 shows that the average air pollution has increased by 9.8 percent in 2021 as compared to 2020. In January 2022, the 25-day average air index stood at 219.52, which is very unhealthy.”
“The analysis of the data in the study further shows that the people of Dhaka did not get a chance to enjoy good quality air even for a day in January. The air quality was mostly ‘unhealthy’ to ‘very unhealthy’ and in the last six years, the people of Dhaka could breathe good quality air for only 38 days”, he added.
Citing a study of 10 places in Dhaka city, he said that the most polluted area in Dhaka city in 2021 was Tejgaon area followed by Shahbagh area.
He emphasized the need for concerted efforts and public awareness of the government agencies responsible for reducing air pollution.
In his speech, Bapa General Secretary Sharif Jamil said that the government should immediately inform the general public about the air condition in Dhaka city.
“Air pollution is causing a humanitarian catastrophe in Dhaka and we do not want development that threatens life,” he said.
Some short-term and long-term recommendations were made at the press conference to overcome the dangers of air pollution.
