With only a few weeks to the elections, Bangladesh is preparing to enter a new chapter in its national journey.

While there remain numerous pressing challenges for our nation, and indeed new ones that are sure to emerge over the coming months that are more visible and tangible, the urgency of tackling air pollution and environmental degradation cannot be overstated. 

The new year has begun with a steady increase when it comes to toxic air, with the capital city continuing to rank among the most polluted cities globally. 

Air pollution has long been a public health crisis for the country, but it should also be seen as a national emergency that threatens not just the health of every single person within but also our economic output and social stability.

With all political parties pledging their agendas, the question is no longer whether addressing our toxic air quality issues should be part of these agendas but rather the urgency with which they must be addressed.

As Bangladesh looks to rebuild better as a nation, regardless of the political party and leaders at the helm, we expect them to rise above rhetoric and commit to enforceable policies for cleaner air for the people of Bangladesh to breathe. 

From expansion of better public transport to urban planning that prioritizes sustainable living to investment in clean energy sources, these are steps that must be taken sooner rather than later.

As we look to the future, let us ensure that progress is measured not only in GDP growth or infrastructure. It is time for all of us to recognize that the right to clean air is inseparable from the right to life, and that a better Bangladesh begins with better, breathable air.