Readers’ Voice: The poisonous Dhaka air

South Asia is among the few regions in the world where NO2 levels are increasing in some areas.

Between 2000 and 2019, NO2 exposure in South Asia increased by 22 percent, while global averages decreased by 5 percent.

Data shows that in 2019, five cities in Bangladesh were among the top 20 cities with the highest NO2 levels in the region.

The cities exceeded the WHO Annual Air Quality Guideline for NO2 (10 µg/m3), with Dhaka having the highest level in the country at 23.6 µg/m3.

A total of 31 percent of fine particulate matter here comes from residential sources, including the use of solid fuels for heating and cooking.

Additionally, a growing fleet of personal vehicles and continued reliance on coal for energy production pose the challenge of increasing levels of NO2 and PM2.5.

As many as 564,739 vehicles were due for regular fitness checks but did not take clearance as of April 30, according to Bangladesh Road Transport Authority data.

More than 50 lakh vehicles are plying the streets, and most of them are old.

Experts said that incompetent combustion of fuel, old and unfit vehicles, and low-quality fuel are the key reasons for the rise of NO2 levels in the air.

Over the years, vehicles have become a major concern for air pollution in the big cities, but sadly, the government is remaining callously indifferent to its duty of making the air worthy of healthy breathing.

Zabir Ahmed
Dhaka, Bangladesh