Dust pollution is choking Dhaka once again. Dust pollution takes a serious turn during the dry seasons (winter) every year that seriously affects public health. Although Dhaka has repeatedly been labelled as one of the 10 most polluted cities in the world, it has not taken consistent and prudent action on it.
Dust pollution has turned into a major public health concern in the capital. One may not see the fine dust floating in the air of Dhaka and other cities of the country, but, undetectable, these micro-particles do utmost harm to human organs. Dust enters human body through mouth, eyes, skin and nostrils and the micro-organisms do their damaging works in various ways. The common complaints are recurring cough, chest infection, low fever, irritation of the eyes and nostrils and so on. Public health experts say that dust contains small particles, contaminated with germs and chemical materials that enter the lung and make serious reparatory problems. This causes diseases like asthma, tuberculosis, influenza, lung cancer, etc
Necessary laws should immediately be implemented
to compel the builders, constructors, and construction
workers to build roads and buildings following rules and regulations
It is disconcerting to learn from a World Health Organisation (WHO) report that Dhaka’s air quality has been ranked as third most polluted in the world. Such a severe air quality rating for Dhaka should compel the authorities concerned towards a decisive shift in policy. Departments concerned must play their role to control unusual growth of dust as well as other air pollutants. It is time for the policymakers and all the stakeholders to understand and underscore the need for formulating new policies and devise new measures to improve Dhaka’s toxic air. Dhaka’s inherently dusty air is made worse by countless unregulated construction sites – and the production of bricks and concrete to feed them. Hence, dust pollution should be a key issue that authorities concerned must address in the sphere of sustainable construction, indeed not only for the sake of environment, but also public health. Necessary laws should immediately be implemented to compel the builders, constructors, and construction workers to build roads and buildings following rules and regulations.
