The level of air pollution in Dhaka has increased 86 per cent in the last 10 years. Around 1.5 crore people of Dhaka are living in an unbelievable condition, breathing toxic gas. Environmentalists came up with this while addressing a "human chain" in front of the national museum in the city yesterday (Saturday).

They said excessive brick kilns, transport, construction work and industrial smoke are major causes for the air pollution. Dhaka's air is now one of the worst polluted among cities across the world, they added. Poribesh Bachao Andolan (POBA) and the Nagorik Odhikar Sangrakhan Forum (NOSF) jointly organised the human chain.

POBA chairman Abu Naser Khan, POBA general secretary Abdus Sobhan, NOSF general secretary Toyeb Ali, Poribesh Andolan Mancha president Amir Hasan Masud, Bangladesh Krishak Federation general secretary Jayed Iqbal, Old Dhaka Nagorik Uddyog president Najimuddin, and Dhaka Juba Foundation general secretary Shakil Rahman, among others, spoke on the occasion.

The green activists have demanded that the government take proper steps to reduce air pollution by controlling dust and other harmful particles in the air.

They also placed a 13-point charter of demands for immediate implementation. The demands are: measures to prevent air pollution, introduce modern technology at brick kilns, use low-sulphure coal, regular maintenance of transport and import of high-quality fuel, apply laws to control air pollution, strengthen activities to prevent pollution in industrial units, clean the streets and footpaths on a regular basis, and ensure that the streets are free from construction materials, sand, brick, and vehicles must carry soil covered and drainage waste must be removed immediately after drains are cleaned.      

“The authorities concerned have to take time befitting programmes to reduce the city’s pollution. The American space research organisation, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), has revealed that Dhaka’s air pollution has increased 86 per cent in the last 10 years,” Abu Naser Khan said.

Bangladesh is one of the worst-hit countries by air pollution in terms of population, he said, adding that the authorities concerned are yet to take logical measures on how to determine the pollution level.

He also said the departments concerned have to take steps on an urgent basis, considering the consequences of the pollution, especially for the capital city of Dhaka.  

“Unplanned development work, vehicles and brick kilns are the major causes for air pollution for the capital. Besides, hundreds of brick fields have been set up around the capital destroying croplands. Most of the brick kilns are operating by using drum chimney illegally,” Abdus Sobhan said.

Low-quality coal is also being used in these brick fields, he said, adding that the brick kiln owners also use wood, plastic, and tyres which emit black smoke and other harmful particles in the air, pushing the total environment into a grave threat.

“People are suffering from eye related diseases. Besides, the air pollution is destroying the respiratory and circulatory system, damaging people’s lungs, heart and brain due to emission of harmful sulphure, nitrogen oxide, carbon mono-oxide and black carbon,” said Sobhan, who is also former additional director general of the Department of Environment (DoE).