Once again, Dhaka has found itself in the unenviable position in the list of world cities with the worst air quality -- with an air quality index (AQI) score of 317 recently, Dhaka ranked first in the list of cities with air that is entirely unconducive to to healthy living.
In accepting this as the status quo, our administration has all but signed the death warrant for all of us.
It is understandable that, as a developing nation, Bangladesh has to undergo a period of aggressive industrialization that is bound to take a toll on the environment. But given that the repeat offenders when it comes to ruining the sanctity of the very air we breathe comprise only a handful of small-scale industries, to constantly let them get away scot-free starts to come off as nothing short of irresponsible on the part of the administration.
Among the biggest polluters are the brick kilns surrounding the capital city, which operate with little regard for safety or regulation, often illegally. They destroy the environment, and are directly responsible for many life-threatening diseases.
To add insult to injury, the industry is also susceptible to egregious human rights violations in that workers are made to toil away 12-14 hours a day amidst toxic fumes, with zero social security and no avenue to escape as they are shackled and confined, and often tortured if they attempt escape.
If this isn't enough reason to shut these polluting smokestacks down, what is?
Ultimately, it is the same culprits that continue to be the major reason for our terrible air quality. If we wish to see Bangladesh achieve its middle income aspirations any time soon, we need to introduce positive changes to the fundamentals: And there are few things as fundamental as the very air that allows us to live.
