Green activists on Saturday urged the authorities to take adequate measures to curb city air pollution immediately. Dust, flame and kiln pollute city.
They have suggested for taking integrated action plan by Dhaka WASA, City Corporations, RAJUK and other service providers who undertake development programmes during the wet season.
They have also suggested the government for taking action plan for reducing air pollution by introducing cleaner energies and increasing awareness among citizens.
Those suggestions came from a human chain formed by Poribesh Bachao Andolan (POBA) in front of the Dhaka University Fine Arts Department in the city.
Chairman of POBA Abu Naser Khan presided at the programme while Chief Scientific Officer of BCSIR Dr Md Abul Kasem, Joint Secretary of POBA MA Wahed, President of Modern Club Abul Hasnat, President of Subandhan Samaj Kalyan Sangathan Habibur Rahman and President of BD Click Aminul Islam, among others, took part in the human chain.
Abu Naser Khan said, during the winter
every year, city residents suffer from acute air pollution created by enormous dust and flame. It push citizens to suffer from various diseases of lungs and respiratory systems. It is an active threat to public health which we need to address immediately with cooperation of the related authorities.
“During dry season, development work should be done with caution. After finishing the work, unused construction materials are left on roads and highways,” said Abu Naser Khan.
“Remove the leftovers after work adequately and do not burn openly during dry season in the city to saveguard public health. We do not want that alarming situation like Delhi and Beijing to emerge in Bangladesh as well,” he added.
Speakers also alarmed that according to the Department of Environment, current Air Quality Index (AQI) of Dhaka is higher than 300 points which means that it is very unhealthy. Dhaka is suffering from acute air pollution which need to be addressed immediately for avoiding public health alert.
Moreover, emergence of clean energy is there as energy like oil and coal are becoming obsolete globally and Bangladesh need adjustment plan to adopt cleaner energy and technologies to curb air pollution.