Failure to clean up Dhaka's air is costing lives

It is extremely concerning how Dhaka is consistently ranked among the cities worldwide with the most polluted air. Even despite frequent rainfall during the past few days, the capital ranked as the fourth most polluted globally on Wednesday morning in terms of air quality. But this is hardly news. For years now, Dhaka’s air has been deadly, with at least 2.36 lakh people reportedly dying due to air pollution in 2021 and the number of patients suffering from respiratory diseases rising consistently year on year. In 2025, Swiss air quality technology company IQAir ranked Bangladesh second after Pakistan among countries with the most polluted air in terms of annual average PM2.5 concentration (μg/m³). That the severe air pollution in Dhaka division is human-made is an established fact. Despite the measurable impact of air pollution on citizens, why is it that we see little action from the government to tackle it?

In major urban areas, the lack of greening allows dust to accumulate on the roadside and dividers, spreading to commuters’ lungs. This is especially prevalent during drier weather. But some sources of pollution remain constant throughout the year. According to 2024 data from the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), more than 25,000 old vehicles are running in the capital, exuding toxic fumes. Another largely ignored source of pollution is the inadequate and open recycling of dangerous lead-acid batteries (used by battery-run rickshaws and discarded every year or so), which releases lead into the surrounding air. Moreover, in Dhaka especially, the brick kilns operating on the city’s outskirts cause massive levels of air pollution. Despite the government declaring Savar a degraded airshed in 2025 and restricting kiln activities, enforcement has been lax.

The consequences of poor urban air quality should be of urgent concern to the government, as the impact on public health is grave. Vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly, as well as people who have to spend time commuting or work in busy outdoor areas, face the highest risk.

Given the varying causes of urban air pollution, a coordinated intervention strategy is needed. Transport authorities such as the BRTA must clamp down on outdated vehicles. City corporations must focus on greening busy sections of the capital, not just affluent neighbourhoods. There should also be campaigns to raise awareness about respiratory diseases and preventive measures, such as wearing good-quality masks. Most importantly, existing guidelines such as the Air Pollution (Control) Rules, 2022, must be properly implemented and renewable energy phased in wherever possible. If not tackled in time, poor air quality will remain yet another highly preventable cause of death for many people in Bangladesh.