Dhaka families say they are trapped in a worsening air pollution crisis that now affects their daily lives throughout the year, forcing many to live with constant respiratory distress.
“Every night when my son goes to sleep, the coughing starts. He cannot stay without an inhaler anymore. The doctor told us to keep him away from polluted air. But we live in Dhaka—where do we go?”
For Sumaiya Akter (pseudonym), a resident of Dhaka’s Badda area, air pollution has become a daily struggle inside her home.
Her 10-year-old son suffers from respiratory complications and allergies. Her husband also frequently experiences breathing difficulties. Medical consultations, inhalers and regular medication have become recurring expenses for the family.
“Even standing on the balcony in the morning, you can feel dust settling everywhere,” Sumaiya told Dhaka Tribune. “We keep the windows closed, but smoke still enters the house. I used to think winter was the worst time, but now even during summer, breathing feels difficult.”
Like thousands of families across the capital, her household is living through an invisible crisis that experts say is now a major public health concern.
Environmental and health experts warn that prolonged exposure to polluted air increases the risk of asthma, cardiovascular disease, stroke, lung complications and developmental problems among children.
Dhaka’s air quality has historically deteriorated during winter. But experts say the pattern has changed.
Professor Dr Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumder, chairman of the Centre for Atmospheric Pollution Studies (CAPS) and professor of environmental science at Stamford University Bangladesh, said air quality in the city has worsened over the past decade.
“Air pollution was once concentrated in winter,” he said. “Now, even during March, April and sometimes May and June, the air often remains unhealthy. In many cases, pollution levels are 10 to 15 times higher than the annual safe limits recommended by the World Health Organization.”
Environmentalists say air pollution in Bangladesh has become a year-round urban crisis rather than a seasonal one.
Outside Sumaiya’s apartment, construction work continues almost daily. Dust fills the air despite residents keeping their windows shut.
“When construction starts, we close everything,” she said. “Still, dust somehow gets inside.”
Experts say her experience reflects conditions faced by many Dhaka residents.
According to climate activist Md Jobayer, mega infrastructure projects—including metro rail construction, flyovers and high-rise developments—are major sources of airborne dust.
“Alongside traditional sources like brick kilns and vehicle emissions, we are now seeing pollution from construction dust, traffic congestion, e-waste processing, battery recycling and unregulated concrete mixing plants,” he said.
Jobayer also pointed to transboundary pollution as a growing concern.
“Nearly 30% to 40% of Bangladesh’s total pollution burden can be linked to cross-border pollution,” he said, referring to emissions from crop residue burning and industrial activity in neighboring regions.
Residents in Badda frequently complain about prolonged exposure to smoke caused by heavy traffic congestion.
According to Majumder, pollution levels vary across Dhaka depending on urban planning, traffic density and geography.
“Badda experiences high pollution because of intense traffic congestion on Pragati Sarani, unfit vehicles and dense settlements,” he said.
Gulshan faces a different situation.
“The area experiences what we call the ‘urban canyon effect’, where tall buildings trap air between them and prevent pollutants from dispersing,” he said.
High concentrations of private vehicles in Gulshan also add to emissions, while dust from nearby Badda and Satarkul often drifts into the area.
Sumaiya says her son’s life has changed significantly.
“He used to run around all day,” she said. “Now he gets tired quickly. If the dust feels too heavy, we don’t let him go outside.”
Physician Dr Abhigyan Haldar said children are among the most vulnerable because their lungs are still developing.
“Long-term exposure to polluted air increases the risks of asthma, pneumonia and respiratory diseases,” he said. “It may also affect children’s physical and cognitive development.”
This year, Dhaka continued to experience unhealthy air even during warmer months, which experts attribute to delayed rainfall, heatwaves and low wind flow.
“Dust particles remained suspended because rainfall arrived late,” said Majumder. “Heatwaves also triggered chemical reactions that produced harmful ground-level ozone and secondary particulate matter.”
Asked what ordinary residents can do, Sumaiya paused. “People tell us to wear masks,” she said. “But can we live like that every day? We cannot leave the city either.”
Experts say personal precautions are not enough. Majumder stressed the need for structural measures, including phasing out traditional brick kilns, removing old vehicles, introducing electric public transport and enforcing stricter dust-control measures.
For families like Sumaiya’s, polluted air is no longer just an environmental issue but an invisible threat shaping health, finances and children’s futures.