Syeda Rizwana Hasan, the adviser for environment, forests, climate change, and water resources, has stated that 30% of Bangladesh’s air pollution originates from neighbouring countries, while 28% is attributed to power plants.
Construction activities and industrial emissions contribute 13%, and these areas need to be brought under strict control.
Speaking as the chief guest at an event titled Global Climate Negotiations: Challenges and Priorities for Bangladesh held at BIISS on Old Elephant Road, Dhaka, on Wednesday (18 December), she stressed the need for immediate and actionable measures.
“We have formed a task force to tackle air pollution.
Divided into 14 groups, the task force will conduct operations this Saturday in Narayanganj, Gazipur, Savar, and Dhaka,” she announced.
The task force will oversee construction activities, regulate polluters, demolish illegal brick kilns, and implement water-spraying measures to minimise dust.
“These actions may slightly alleviate public suffering, but air pollution cannot be fixed overnight,” she remarked.
Expressing frustration over the lack of implementation, she said, “I’m exhausted from hearing plans. Whenever I visit the ministry, they talk about making plans, holding workshops, or initiating projects. However I rarely see initiatives being implemented. The ministry’s role is not to plant trees or cultivate fish; rather, it should display activism and prove its presence in the field. The time has come to shift focus towards implementation.”
Syeda Rizwana Hasan urged for stricter monitoring of power plants and suggested a temporary halt to brick kiln operations and steel mills to mitigate the situation. She also proposed covering open spaces and roads with grass to reduce dust and emphasised the need to safeguard existing greenery.
“In times of severe pollution, we’re cutting down trees on Panthapath. Instead of creating more green spaces, we’re turning the existing ones barren,” she lamented.
Referring to the restoration of Dhaka’s canals, she noted, “We’ve identified 21 canals in the city, and the action plan is nearly finalised. We aim to dredge the canals, free them from illegal encroachment, and restore them. But despite all our efforts, why wouldn’t you want to stroll along Hatirjheel? Because the stench is unbearable. How can I solve a 53-year-old problem in four months? Nevertheless, the work must be done.”
The adviser stressed that while progress may be slow, decisive and immediate actions are essential to combat the pressing environmental challenges faced by the nation.
