Emission of black smoke by unfit vehicles and brick kilns, and dust are causing severe air pollution in capital Dhaka, posing health hazards for millions of city
people. A group of environmentalists expressing concern over the alarming air pollution yesterday demanded immediate government action to ensure clean air in the city.
The appeal came at a citizen rally under the banner of Bangladesh Paribesh Bachao Andolon (BAPA) and 13 other organisations in front of the Jatiya Press Club in the
city, BAPA general secretary Abdul Matin presided over the rally. Although the authorities have stopped importing lead mixed petrol and two-stroke engines the air
pollution has increased sharply, they said adding that there were about 10,000 brick kilns surrounding the capital, responsible for high air pollution.
Low quality of coal, which has higher sulfur content of seven to 10 percent, is used as fuel in the brick kilns, they said adding that the highest limit of sulfur in
the coal should be one percent. The emission of carbon dioxide from the vehicles is severely polluting the air of the city, they said. They said the construction work
coupled with earth filling in different parts of the city is responsible for the air pollution. Quoting a report released by the World Bank and the Environment
Ministry, they said the level of air pollution in the city is five times more than the permissible limit. The permissible limit is 50 microgram. The airborne
particulate matter is now 250 microgram per cubic metre, they added.
Abdul Matin said air pollution is now everywhere, including the towns and ports outside the capital. “The government has to take action to save the people from
pollution,” he added.
Placing a 11-point demand, he urged the government to take action to convert the old brick kilns into modern ones, ban old vehicles that are running for 16 years or
more on the streets.
The demands also include stopping of indiscriminate felling of trees for fuel purpose and making of alternative arrangement in this regard. Import of low quality coal
for fuel has to be stopped and sustainable fuel and national policy is needed for combating air pollution, .
The environmentalists said Bangladesh ranked 169th among 178 countries in the Global Environmental Performance Index 2014, considering the life quality on the basis of
environmental protection and ranked 178th position in a separate list, considering the pure air.
Quoting the research team of the Index, the green activists also said that the countries that are overburdened with the political and other problems are lagging behind
in protecting the environment.
Courtesy of The Independent
