DHAKA: In a bid to combat the escalating air pollution in Dhaka and its surrounding areas, the government has announced the formation of a temporary taskforce. The initiative, spearheaded by Local Government Rural Development and Cooperatives Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain, is intended as a pilot project to last until the arrival of the next monsoon season.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the decision was made during an inter-ministerial meeting at the Bangladesh Secretariat, which was convened to devise strategies for mitigating air pollution during the dry season. The taskforce, to be led by the Secretary of the Local Government Division, will include representatives from various city corporations, RAJUK, the Department of Environment, BRTA, WASA, and other experts and stakeholders.
Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, supported the taskforce’s formation. During the meeting, the local government adviser urged Dhaka City Corporation officials to tackle issue
s arising from frequent road excavations by utility service providers. He also suggested that the City Corporation and RAJUK take charge of organizing the city’s transport system and managing construction materials to curb pollution.
Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan highlighted the complexity of solving air pollution, noting that trans-boundary pollution accounts for about 40 percent of the problem in Bangladesh. She advocated for temporary measures, such as water sprinkling, while encouraging citizens to use masks and air purifiers. Furthermore, an alert system has been introduced to manage air pollution, and a plan is in place to eliminate all old and unfit vehicles within six months.
The government has also resolved to phase out the use of bricks in all government construction projects by 2025, reflecting a comprehensive approach to addressing air quality in the region.