Can we have clean air?

The air pollution in Dhaka is, frankly, too big of an issue to ignore. Dhaka continues to be ranked amongst the world’s most polluted cities and, as of March 19, was the city with the second lowest quality of air. While much of this air pollution is environmental, it cannot be denied that the way Dhaka functions as a city has a huge part to play in the number of impurities present in capital city’s air. Experts have suggested that the air pollution will decrease during the monsoon, but we cannot rely on the seasons to ease the sufferings of our people. Currently, the top 10 causes of death in this country, such as lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and strokes, have been linked to the almost intolerable levels of air pollution in the city. The major pollutants remain the excessive amount of vehicles on the streets, which need vigorous regulations to control the amount of emissions, with policies put in place with regards to the lubricants and types of fuel used. Additionally, brick kilns, open construction sites, and the general laissez-faire attitude with which pollution is treated in the city and, in fact, the entire country exacerbate the problem. We need to become thorough in our pursuit for cleaner air. As it stands, the current quality of air is not sustainable. The only solution would be for Dhaka and other parts of Bangladesh to incorporate green strategies and policies with strict implementation so as to curb the ever-increasing and adverse effects of air pollution. The long-term effects of continued air pollution would be devastating.