5 green advisers, yet Dhaka remains most polluted

Gazi Anowar :

The interim government of Bangladesh includes five advisers who have been actively involved in environmental activism.

However, despite their presence, the environmental conditions in Dhaka, one of the world’s most polluted cities, show no signs of improvement.

Among them, Syed Rizwana Hasan, the adviser for Environment, Forest, Climate Change, and Water Resources, is a well-known environmental activist.

Before assuming this role in August last year, she was actively involved with the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) since 1993 and was a member of the national committee of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) from 2006 to 2008.

Her efforts in environmental protection have earned her several national and international accolades, including the Heroes of the Environment title from Time magazine.

Just two years ago, she was at the forefront of protests against tree cutting in Dhanmondi, illegal occupation of parks and water bodies in Dhaka, and industrial river pollution.

Similarly, Dr. Asif Nazrul, who now serves as the interim government’s advisor for Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs, as well as Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, has a long history of environmental activism.

From 2007 to 2010, he played a key role in BAPA’s executive and legal affairs committees, contributing to environmental law development.

Wahiduddin Mahmud, the adviser for Planning and Education, also served as BAPA’s vice-president and executive member from 2006 to 2009, advocating for environmental protection in economic policies.

Adviser to the Ministry of Social Welfare and Ministry of Women
and Child Affairs of the Interim Government, Shamin S. Morshed, served as the Executive Member and Joint Secretary of BAPAR from 2019-2023.

On her initiative, a new organization ‘Dhoritri Rakkhay Amra’ (DHARA) was launched in January last year to protect the environment. She went to different parts of the country and took the local people with him to protest for the protection of the country’s rivers and safe energy.

From 2019-2023, Farida Akhter, Advisor to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock of the Interim Government, was a member of the Executive Committee and Convener of the Safe Food and Agriculture Committee.

Policy research and writing to change the quality of life of poor people in rural Bangladesh is a major part of his work as well as environmental activism.

Given their extensive backgrounds in environmental activism, there were high expectations that this interim government would take decisive steps to combat pollution and protect Bangladesh’s natural resources.

However, six months into their tenure, the environmental indicators remain largely unchanged.

Dhaka’s air pollution reaches alarming levels:
Dhaka continues to rank among the most polluted cities globally, frequently topping the list of cities with the worst air quality, according to IQAir.

The situation has worsened this winter, with air pollution levels in November and December reaching the highest in eight years.

In January 2025, Dhaka’s air quality index (AQI) hit an unprecedented 622, well above the 300 threshold considered hazardous to public health.

Data from the Center for Atmospheric Pollution Studies (CAPS) shows that January’s air pollution was 24.52% higher than the previous eight-year average, with an AQI of 318 compared to the 2017-2024 average of 255.48.

Throughout the entire month of January, Dhaka residents did not experience a single day of clean air.

Environmentalists have expressed frustration over the government’s lack of concrete action.

Despite numerous protests and demands for policy changes, the government has yet to introduce any visible or structural measures to curb pollution.

Environmental movements ignored:
In the past six months, over a hundred protests have taken place across the country, with the government responding to most of them. However, demands from environmental activists have largely been ignored.

Protesters have been campaigning against the filling of Panthakunja and Hatirjheel for expressway construction, yet the government has taken no action to address their concerns.

Environmental activist Nayan Sarkar, a key figure in the Panthakunja movement, told The New Nation, “After the July uprising, we expected this government to reassess and cancel environmentally destructive projects initiated by the previous administration.

Many of the current advisors were vocal against the Rampal coal power plant, yet six months into their tenure, they remain silent on the issue. Meanwhile, deforestation, river encroachment, and pollution continue unabated across Bangladesh.”

Government response and public outcry:
The interim government has implemented several measures to tackle air pollution, including restrictions on brick kilns, promoting green energy solutions, and enforcing emission regulations. However, environmental activists argue that these efforts remain insufficient and lack proper execution.

M. Zakir Hossain Khan, Chief Executive of Change Initiative and a prominent environmental researcher, criticized the government’s approach that “The policies sound good on paper, but enforcement is weak. Without strict regulations and accountability, the situation will only worsen.”

Meanwhile, residents continue to express frustration over the deteriorating air quality, with many reporting respiratory problems and other health complications.

Call for immediate action:
Health experts warn that prolonged exposure to high pollution levels could lead to severe respiratory diseases, heart conditions, and reduced life expectancy.

They urge the authorities to take urgent steps, such as improving public transportation, enhancing waste management, and increasing green spaces in the city.

As the debate over accountability continues, the people of Dhaka remain hopeful that concrete actions will be taken to mitigate the environmental crisis before it escalates further.

Concerns over urban development policies:
The government’s approach to urban planning has also drawn criticism. The Detailed Area Plan (DAP) 2022-35, designed to make Dhaka more livable, was amended in September 2023 under pressure from powerful real estate groups.

Now, the interim government is considering further amendments that would allow the construction of 100-story buildings.

Urban planner Dr. Adil Muhammad Khan called this move “an outright crime,” stating, “Instead of focusing on making Dhaka livable, the government is once again catering to the demands of business groups.

This is a repeat of past administrations’ failures.”
Government defends its actions:
Despite the criticism, Environment Advisor Syeda Rizwana Hasan insists that the government is prioritizing environmental concerns.

Speaking to the media, she said, “It is unrealistic to expect decades-old problems to be resolved in just six months.

However, we have initiated key measures. We have begun dredging Dhaka’s canals, are tackling plastic pollution, and have taken steps to protect biodiversity in St. Martin’s Island.

Additionally, actions are being taken to control deforestation and noise pollution.”

She also highlighted plans for forest conservation efforts in Tangail’s Sal forests, which will involve local communities. “Our goal is to establish sustainable forest management practices, and local participation is crucial for success,” she added.

While the interim government claims to have laid the groundwork for environmental improvements, activists remain skeptical, arguing that the progress is too slow and insufficient to address the urgent crisis facing Bangladesh’s environment.