WITH over 20 million residents packed into its metropolitan area, Dhaka represents the aspirations of a nation on the rise. However, beneath its vibrant façade lies a crisis that threatens the health, productivity and well-being of its people — severe air pollution. Year after year, Dhaka ranks among the cities with the worst air quality worldwide, a distinction that highlights the urgent need for comprehensive action. The question is no longer whether Dhaka’s air quality must improve but how quickly and effectively this improvement can be achieved. The time for action is now, before the costs — both human and economic — become irreversible.
Growing crisis
AIR pollution has become a public health emergency in Dhaka. The city’s air contains dangerously high levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and other harmful pollutants. According to the Air Quality Life Index by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago, residents of Dhaka could gain up to seven years of life expectancy if air pollution were reduced to meet World Health Organisation standards. Alarmingly, the average PM2.5 concentration in Dhaka’s air is over 15 times higher than the WHO’s recommended limit.
A 2022 report by the World Bank estimates that 80,000 deaths in Bangladesh each year are directly attributable to air pollution. Dhaka shoulders a significant portion of this burden, with rising cases of respiratory illnesses, heart disease, and premature mortality. Children are particularly vulnerable, suffering from asthma, stunted lung development, and frequent hospital visits. For the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions, polluted air can be a death sentence. The indirect costs are just as staggering. Illnesses caused by air pollution lead to reduced workforce productivity, increased absenteeism in schools and an overburdened healthcare system. The World Bank estimates that air pollution costs Bangladesh around 4 per cent of its gross domestic product annually, which translates to billions of dollars in lost economic output and healthcare expenses.
Causes
DHAKA’S air pollution crisis stems from a combination of human activities, industrial practices and urban planning failures. Identifying and addressing these sources is crucial for creating effective solutions:
Dhaka’s outskirts are dotted with thousands of brick kilns, which are among the largest single sources of air pollution. These kilns, often operating with outdated technology, account for 21.7 per cent of particulate matter pollution. During the dry season, the kilns operate at full capacity, blanketing the city with thick layers of smog.
Factories in and around Dhaka release pollutants directly into the air, often without proper filtration or monitoring. Textile dyeing units, steel plants and chemical industries are particularly notorious for their emissions.
The inactive city corporation must be blamed for being unable to collaborate with other associated agencies to enforce laws due to a lack of monitoring and regulation. Neither DNCC nor DSCC is taking any remarkable initiatives to make the air clean and safe for city dwellers.
Construction is a major contributor to air pollution in Dhaka. According to department of environment, 58 per cent of the city’s particulate matter pollution comes from construction activities. Rapid urbanisation has led to an explosion of unregulated building projects that release enormous amounts of dust and debris into the air. The lack of enforcement of dust control measures exacerbates the problem.
The city’s congested streets are filled with vehicles that emit harmful pollutants. A 2023 report by the CASE Project revealed that 15 per cent of air pollution in Dhaka originates from vehicle emissions. Many older vehicles continue to operate despite their high emission levels and the use of low-quality fuel worsens the situation.
In many parts of Dhaka, waste management is inadequate. This practice releases toxic chemicals, including dioxins, into the air.
The establishment of unregulated and unrealistic new projects across urban and suburban areas is to blame for drastic air pollution. During urban renewal and gentrification processes, the lack of collaboration among Water Supply and Sewerage Authority, Detailed Area Plan and Road and Highways Divisions results in repetitive construction, generating significant dust and causing suffering for urban dwellers.
Solutions for cleaner Dhaka
WHILE the challenges are immense, the solutions are well within reach. Cities around the world, such as Beijing and New Delhi, have faced similar crises and implemented successful measures to improve air quality. Dhaka can draw on these examples while tailoring solutions to its unique context.
Authorities must enforce stricter dust control measures at construction sites to mitigate particulate matter pollution. This involves mandating the use of water sprays, protective coverings and barriers to prevent dust dispersion, with substantial fines for non-compliance. The government should also modernise brick kilns by transitioning to cleaner technologies such as the hybrid hoffman kiln and tunnel kiln, which emit fewer pollutants. Relocating these kilns away from densely populated areas can further reduce their environmental impact.
Improving vehicle emissions standards is essential, including phasing out older, high-emission vehicles, promoting cleaner fuels and electric vehicles and expanding public transportation networks. Policies that incentivise ridesharing and discourage private car ownership can also help reduce traffic-related emissions. Enhancing waste management is another critical step, with a focus on eliminating open waste burning through composting and recycling initiatives, along with stricter enforcement against illegal burning. Besides following the roadmaps of developed countries, Dhaka city as well as Bangladesh can initiate measures to increase public transportation facilities across the country, which will ultimately reduce the number of private vehicles. It also needs to be regulated how many cars a family can own in the city through thorough investigation and needs assessment.
Increasing urban green spaces, such as planting more trees, developing rooftop gardens and establishing community parks, can act as natural air filters and improve overall air quality while also enhancing mental well-being. Installing continuous air quality monitoring stations across the city is necessary to provide real-time data on pollution levels, enabling informed policy decisions and raising public awareness.
Public engagement through educational campaigns is vital to highlight the dangers of air pollution and encourage individuals to adopt eco-friendly practices, such as reducing waste, using public transport and conserving energy. Finally, strong political will and effective governance are crucial for implementing and enforcing air quality regulations. Collaboration with international organisations can provide the technical expertise and financial resources needed to support large-scale initiatives. Together, these measures can pave the way for cleaner, healthier air in Dhaka.
Global lessons
CITIES like Beijing have shown that targeted measures can lead to significant improvements in air quality. In just four years, Beijing reduced PM2.5 levels by 35 per cent through a combination of stricter emissions controls, industrial upgrades and public transportation expansion. New Delhi’s odd-even vehicle scheme, though temporary, successfully reduced vehicular emissions during peak pollution periods. These examples demonstrate that progress is possible with sustained effort.
Call to action
IMPROVING air quality is not a choice; it is an obligation we owe to ourselves, our children and generations to come. Policymakers, businesses and citizens must unite to tackle this crisis. Cleaner air is within our reach and with collective effort, Dhaka can rise above the haze to become a beacon of progress and sustainability.
Mahmodul Shesheir is an associate researcher at Yale University. Dr Rasel Hussain is an assistant professor at East West University. Mehadi Shawon is a PhD student at Kansas State University. Faiaz Ahmed is a research coordinator at Yale University.
