Readers’ Voice

Pollution in Dhaka :

I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the escalating pollution levels in the capital Dhaka. Over the past few years, the city’s air and water quality have noticeably deteriorated, posing a severe threat to the well-being of our community.
Each day, we are forced to breathe in pollutants and harmful particles, leading to a rise in respiratory illnesses and compromised immune systems. This issue demands immediate attention from our local authorities to implement stringent measures that reduce emissions from vehicles, factories, and other sources.
Furthermore, the quality of our water resources has reached an alarming level. The contamination of our rivers, lakes, and groundwater due to industrial waste poses a great danger. We must emphasise the urgency of enforcing strict regulations on industries and waste management systems and raising public awareness about the importance of responsible water usage.
It is high time that we unite and demand immediate action from our two city corporations and relevant stakeholders to address these escalating pollution concerns. I remain hopeful that our city can overcome these challenges and reclaim its status as a clean, healthy, and livable environment for all its residents.

Zarif Siddika
West Dhanmondi

Smoking in public

With the exception of certain places, the Tobacco Control Act provides the provision of ‘designated smoking zones’ in public places and transports with multiple compartments. That is the reason why smoking is widely observed in various public places and public transport. As a result, it is not possible to protect the populace, especially the women and children, from the harms of secondhand smoke.
Smoking should be completely banned from all types of spaces those are not enclosed by walls including restaurants, hotels, public places, workplaces and mechanical transports with multiple compartments as well as all non-mechanical public transport.

Mehedi Hasan
Dhaka