As a nation undergoing rapid development, it is expected that the same development would take a toll on our environment. However, given the unplanned nature of our development, that impact has been all the more egregious.
According to a report from last year, Dhaka has lost around 56% of its green spaces over the last three decades -- in 1989 our capital city had 12,745 hectares of vegetation, which then came down to a mere 5,599 hectares in 2020.
Given just how unlivable Dhaka as a city has become, with its aggregate rank in the Air Quality Index placing it in the “top” three every other day, the administration's lack of any pro-active measures to improve this situation is simply mind boggling.
One particularly effective method that the government can consider is the establishment of dedicated green spaces throughout our cities, especially Dhaka, as the value of trees and plants in urban environments has been well documented by now.
Green spaces improve air quality, offer shade against heat, and provide an antidote to congestion, traffic, and the hectic pace of city life. On the flipside, a lack of greenery in the capital, coupled with overpopulation and lacklustre planning, has contributed significantly to rising temperatures, pollution, and deteriorating health conditions, making Dhaka one of the least liveable cities in the world.
There is still time for us to correct our course.
While focusing on sustainable development when it comes to our urban areas must be ensured, it is equally important for us to make way for dedicated green spaces as well.
We must work towards creating a more favourable environment for our people to thrive in, and dedicated green spaces in our urban areas is an important step we cannot sleep on to that end.
