Dhaka’s air quality has worsened alarmingly and the capital city has ranked No. 1 in the Air Quality Index (AQI) across the world in the last two to three days. It is almost impossible to reduce pollution by 2022 until development works like the Metro Rail are completed.

The government has also decided to declare the Bangladesh Secretariat areas like Zero Point, Paltan Moor and Kadam Fuara as silent zones, which will come into effect from December 17.

Against this backdrop, an inter-ministerial meeting was held at the environment, forest and climate change ministry, with environment, forest and climate change minister Shahab Uddin in the chair yesterday (Monday). Among others, deputy minister for environment, forest and climate change Habibun Nahar, secretary Abdullah Al Mohsin Chowdhury, Department of Environment (DoE) director-general AKM Rafiq Ahamad,

representatives from the home, road transport and bridges, health, local government and public works ministries, city corporations, police and other officials attended the meeting.

“We’ll ensure that the emission of environmental pollutant ingredients from brick kilns is controlled. Dhaka North and South Corporations will spray water in key city roads everyday in the morning and noon. Besides, the Bangladesh Rapid Transport (BRT) and Metro Rail authorities will also take measures and spray water,” Shahab Uddin told reporters after the meeting. He also said trucks carrying brick, sand and soil must cover the materials during transportation. The ministry has requested the DSCC and DNCC not to burn abandoned waste, the environment minister said.

Shahab Uddin has directed the DoE to take up long-, medium- and short-term programmes to control air and sound pollution. “We’ve got to take immediate measures to reduce the air pollution as the pollution level in Dhaka has become unbearable. The capital city now ranks No. 1 in AQI in the world,” he said. According to the environment minister, brick kilns, construction work, road-digging and excess transport are the major causes for air pollution.

“Coordinated efforts are needed to reduce the air pollution during development work. The two city corporations will have to play a vital role in this respect. Besides, the stakeholders of major construction works like Metro Rail will have to ensure proper management to keep the pollution level within a tolerable limit while abiding by the rules of the DoE,” Shahab Uddin said.

He has also said electric, telephone, gas, industrial units, roads and highways and other private and public departments are carrying out developmental works without any coordination and this has created serious problems for air pollution. There are 7,902 brick kilns across the country and most of them are located around the capital, the environment minister said, adding that 619,654 different types of vehicles currently operate in Dhaka.

“We’ve decided to declare the Bangladesh Secretariat areas as a silent zone and this will come into effect from December 17. No mode of transport will be allowed to blow their horns in areas like Zero Point, Paltan and Kadam Fuara,” Shahab Uddin said. He said the decision was taken as part of the pilot project to control sound pollution.

Dhaka had a score of 242 at 8am, which means the air quality was ‘very unhealthy’. India’s New Delhi, Pakistan’s Lahore and Mongolia’s Ulaanbaatar occupy the next three slots with scores of 211, 198 and 198 respectively. When the AQI value is between 201 and 300, every city dweller may begin to have health problems. Children, adults and people with respiratory diseases are advised to avoid outdoor activities while others are advised to limit their outdoor work in such situation.