With the fairly recent news of Dhaka, once again, being deemed as the number one city with the worst air quality, it is good to see the government take a timely initiative in an attempt to bring an unfortunate situation under control.
In a bid to create more awareness on the matter, the authorities involved arranged a special drive on Wednesday in five areas in the capital, even fining vehicles and organizations identified as contributing to the high levels of pollution.
It is common knowledge that Dhaka continues to struggle with unhealthy levels of pollution, especially in the winter months. That this is a recurring phenomenon should by no means be reason for us to take it lightly, however.
Air pollution is a leading cause of health concerns and even fatalities, and the fact that we have so far failed to contain the threat is certainly a matter of great concern.
To that end, this recent initiative is praise-worthy, as it facilitated active intervention by the authorities, and aimed to create more understanding amongst the general public in regards to air and noise pollution.
It is undeniable that this issue is beyond just the government's control; unless all citizens make conscious efforts to limit their contributions to pollution levels, it may be impossible for our nation to enjoy better air quality in the coming years.
The government must continue to arrange awareness campaigns as such, and all those responsible for this risk to the environment and our people must be held accountable. Only with a nation mindful of its actions can we truly defeat the rising threat of pollution.
