environment
Pollution, unsafe water, poor sanitation cause over 272,000 premature deaths in Bangladesh annually: WB report
Bangladesh faces alarming levels of pollution and environmental health risks that disproportionately harm the most vulnerable people – the poor, children under-5, the elderly, and women, says a new World Bank report.
Bangladesh Country Environmental Analysis finds air pollution, unsafe water, poor sanitation and hygiene, and lead exposure cause over 272,000 premature deaths and 5.2 billion days of illness annually.
These environmental costs were equivalent to 17.6 percent of Bangladesh's GDP in 2019.
Household and outdoor air pollution have the most detrimental effect on health, leading to nearly 55 percent of premature deaths, which alone cost 8.32 percent of GDP in 2019, said the report.
Country director for Bhutan and Bangladesh Abdoulaye Seck said for Bangladesh, addressing environmental risks is both a development and an economic priority.
“We have seen around the world that when economic growth comes at the cost of the environment, it cannot sustain. But it is possible to grow cleaner and greener without growing slower,” he said.
He said that to sustain its strong growth path and improve the livability of cities and the countryside, Bangladesh simply cannot afford to ignore the environment.
Women's perspectives are vital in climate action: Environment Minister
“Preventing environmental degradation and ensuring climate resilience is critical to stay on a strong growth path and for achieving the country’s vision of becoming an upper-middle-income country.”
Environmental pollution is taking a heavy toll on children. Lead poisoning is causing irreversible damage to children’s brain development, resulting in an estimated annual loss of nearly 20 million IQ points.
Household emissions from cooking with solid fuels is a major source of air pollution and affect women and children, according to the report.
Major rivers in Bangladesh have experienced a severe decline in water quality due to industrial discharge and unmanaged waste, including plastics and untreated sewage, among other sources.
Timely and urgent interventions for air pollution control; improved water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH); and control of lead exposure could prevent over 133,000 premature deaths per year.
Investments in cleaner power generation, clean cooking fuels, and stricter controls on industrial emissions can help reduce air pollution.
Women are powerful agents of change in building resilient communities: Environment Minister
Ana Luisa Gomes Lima, World Bank Senior Environmental Specialist and co-author of the report said that with timely and right set of policies and actions, Bangladesh can reverse its environment degradation trend.
“Strengthening and enforcing environmental regulations, coupled with investments and other incentives for clean cooking, scaling up green financing, setting up efficient carbon markets, and raising awareness, can help reduce pollution and achieve green growth in Bangladesh.”
The report identifies environmental priorities, assesses interventions, and includes recommendations to strengthen governance and institutional capacity for environmental management.
Bangladesh can protect its environment by setting evidence-based priorities, diversifying and strengthening environmental policy instruments, strengthening institutional capacity, and building an enabling environment for green financing.
Women's perspectives are vital in climate action: Environment Minister
Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury said women's perspectives are vital in climate action as they are the key agents of change in combating climate change.
He said women make invaluable contributions in environmental conservation, adaptation, and mitigation efforts, highlighting the imperative of recognizing and amplifying their voices in climate action strategies, according to a press release.
Saber was addressing as the chief guest at the programme titled "Empowering Women for Climate Justice" jointly organised by The Asia Foundation and development organisation Bahnishika at the Westin Hotel in the capital on Wednesday.
He said empowering women is urgent as they often understand needs better than others. The government is committed to implement climate action by measuring its impact and welcomes insights from development partners.
Strategic spending is essential for maximum impact. He said water management stands as a critical challenge, with a commitment to inclusivity and acknowledging the limits of adaptation, he added.
The environment minister also said, “Women play a vital role in safeguarding our environment and building climate-resilient communities. It is imperative that we prioritize their empowerment and inclusion in our climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts. By harnessing the full potential of women, we can achieve greater sustainability and resilience in the face of environmental challenges.”
Minister of State for Finance Waseqa Ayesha Khan and parliament member Nahim Razzaq were present as special guests on the occasion.
Rains likely in parts of Dhaka, 7 other divisions
Rains will drench different places in eight divisions of the country in 24 hours commencing 9am on Monday, according to Bangladesh Metrological Department.
“Rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty or squally wind is likely at a few places over Rangpur, Dhaka, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions and at one or two places over Rajshahi, Khulna Barishal & Chattogram divisions,” said a Met office bulletin.
Day and night temperature may fall slightly over the country.
Country’s highest temperature was recorded at 35.2 degree Celsius in Jashore and Khulna’s Mongla.
Dhaka’s air quality 3rd worst in the world this morning
Dhaka has ranked third on the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality with an AQI index of 181 at 9:05 am this morning (March 25, 2024).
Dhaka’s air was classified as 'unhealthy' today, according to the air quality index.
Pakistan’s Lahore, India’s Delhi and Algeria’s Algiers occupied the first, second and fourth spots on the list, with AQI scores of 213, 197 and 171 respectively.
When the AQI value for particle pollution is between 101 and 150, air quality is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, between 150 and 200 is ‘unhealthy’, between 201 and 300 is said to be 'very uhealthy', while a reading of 301+ is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents.
The AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, informs people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is and what associated health effects might be a concern for them.
The AQI in Bangladesh is based on five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone.
Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.
As per World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, mainly due to increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.
28 mm rainfall recorded in Dhaka; rain likely in 5 divisions
Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) predicts rain or thundershower in parts of the country over 24 hours starting from 9:00 am on Sunday.
“Rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at one or two places over Rangpur, Dhaka, Mymensingh, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions,” said a BMD bulletin.
Weather may remain mainly dry with temporary partly cloudy sky elsewhere over the country.
Day and night temperatures may rise by 1-2°C over the country, it said.
Tariful Islam Newaz, meteorologist at the BMD, said they recorded 28 mm rainfall in Dhaka over six hours, from 12 am to 6 am.
The capital Dhaka may experience rain in the next 24 hours, starting from 9:00 am, he said, adding that the highest 63 mm rainfall was recorded in Kishoreganj’s Nikli over 24 hours, till 6 am today.
Country’s highest temperature, 33.8 degree Celsius, was recorded in Cox’s Bazar’s Teknaf and Khulna’s Mongla respectively on Saturday.
Despite rain, Dhaka’s air quality still ‘unhealthy’
Despite rain, Dhaka’s air quality is still ‘unhealthy’.
Dhaka has ranked 11th on the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality with an AQI score of 152 at 9 am this morning (March 24, 2024).
India’s Delhi, Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Kinshasa and Indonesia’s Medan occupied the first, second and third spots on the list, with AQI scores of 273, 168 and 163 respectively.
When the AQI value for particle pollution is between 101 and 150, air quality is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, between 150 and 200 is ‘unhealthy’, between 201 and 300 is said to be 'very unhealthy', while a reading of 301+ is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents.
The AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, informs people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is and what associated health effects might be a concern for them.
The AQI in Bangladesh is based on five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone.
Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.
As per World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, mainly due to increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.
Women are powerful agents of change in building resilient communities: Environment Minister
Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Saber Hossain Chowdhury said women are powerful agents of change in building resilient communities by tackling Climate Change.
He said for this reason collaborative efforts and collective action are important for charting a course towards a more resilient, equitable, and sustainable world.
Environment Minister Saber for nature-based water management in addressing prevailing crisis
“It is imperative that we harness the potential of women as key stakeholders in crafting holistic solutions to address these pressing issues,” he said.
Saber was speaking as the chief guest at seminar titled “Climate Change and Environmental Degradation - Impact on Women and the Way Forward,” organized by the SAARC Business Council of Women's Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (WICCI) held at Parliament Club Auditorium in the capital.
MoU to be signed with South Korea on carbon markets: Environment Minister
The minister said foreigners now want to learn strategies to deal with climate change from Bangladesh. However, whatever action is taken to combat climate change is not enough.
He said proper research is needed for this. Above all, it is necessary to deal with climate change with everyone including the private sector.
Wildlife Olympiad organised to make students aware about wildlife conservation: Environment Minister
Dr Mantasha Ahmed, President, SAARC Business Council of WICCI, hosted the programme
Dr Farhina Ahmed, Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change; Dilruba Haider, Program Specialist, DRR & Climate Change, UN Women and Runa Khan, Founder and Executive Director of Friendship were present among others on the occasion.
Weather forecast: Rain across Bangladesh with thunderstorms in some areas, BMD says
Rain or thunder showers were forecasted in Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions with temporary gusty or squally winds, according to BMD’s weather bulleting for Friday.
Dhaka air world’s worst this morning
Moderate chances of rain or thunder showers are expected in Khulna, Barishal, and Chattogram, while there is a lower likelihood of rain in Rangpur.
Weather forecast: Scattered rain with gusty winds in four divisions, BMD says
Temperatures are forecasted to remain relatively unchanged across the nation, added the bulletin.
Weather forecast: Scattered thunderstorms in parts of country, BMD says
Dhaka air world’s worst this morning
Dhaka topped the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality with an AQI score of 190 at 9:02 am this morning.
The air was classified as “unhealthy,” according to the air quality index.
Dhaka air unhealthy for sensitive groups this morning
Pakistan’s Lahore, Senegal’s Dakar, Kazakhstan’s Astana and India’s Delhi occupied the second, third, fourth and fifth spots on the list, with AQI scores of 183, 171, 169 and 169 respectively.
An AQI between 151 and 200 is considered “unhealthy” while 201-300 is “very unhealthy” and 301+ is considered “hazardous,” posing severe health risks to residents.
Dhaka air third worst in the world this morning
The AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, informs people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is and what associated health effects might be a concern for them.
The AQI in Bangladesh is based on five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone.
Dhaka air world’s worst this morning
Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.
As per World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, mainly due to increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.
Environment Minister Saber for nature-based water management in addressing prevailing crisis
Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury stressed the significance of a nature-based water management in addressing the prevailing crisis.
He highlighted the escalating challenges of salinity and food scarcity attributed to climate change, emphasizing the imperative for collaborative efforts among the ministries of Agriculture, Water, and Environment to mitigate these crises.
Emphasizing an environmentally conscious approach, the minister urged for comprehensive solutions.
Speaking as the chief guest during a webinar organised by the 3rd Coastal Water Conference Committee at their Khulna Secretariat office on World Water Day 2024 on Thursday, Khulna City Corporation Mayor Talukdar Abdul Khaleque chaired the event.
The panel discussion featured eminent experts including Emeritus Professor of BRAC University Dr. Ainun Nishat, Farah Kabir, Country Director of ActionAid Bangladesh, Mohammad Zobair Hasan, Deputy Executive Director of DORP), Dr. Md. Golam Rabbani, Head at Climate Bridge Fund Secretariat of BRAC), Md. Shamsuddoha, Chief Executive of CPRD), and Prof. Dr. Mujibur Rahman of Environmental Science Discipline at Khulna University.
Shamim Arfeen, Member Secretary of the Coastal Water Convention Committee and Executive Director of AOSED, along with other dignitaries including lawmaker Shammi Akhtar and Khulna WASA’s Managing Director Abdullah, among others addressed the webinar.
Water and Climate expert Professor Dr. Ainun Nishat emphasized the urgency of addressing water-related issues, citing instances where regions such as Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira, and parts of Barguna have already become uninhabitable.
He underscored the absence of a dedicated authority for water management in the country and pointed out the need for modernizing existing infrastructures like the coastal dam, constructed in the sixties.
Dr. Nishat advocated for the enforcement of existing laws related to water management and stressed the adoption of international basin-based management strategies, along with promoting the use of surface water, rainwater conservation, and the development of fresh water reservoirs as indispensable measures.