Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan has said reducing air pollution is a time-consuming process dependent on economic capacity, development patterns, communication infrastructure, and the transport system.
Thirty to 35% of Bangladesh’s air pollution originates from foreign sources, while 28% comes from power plants, underscoring the need for a well-defined action plan to control pollution, she said while speaking as the chief guest at a Stakeholder Consultation Workshop on the Bangladesh Clean Air Project on Wednesday.
The workshop was held at the Department of Environment in Dhaka’s Agargaon.
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Reducing air pollution is impossible without improving fuel quality and increasing refinery capacity. Even neighbouring countries that have enhanced their refineries still struggle with air pollution, often ranking among the most polluted cities. Therefore, Bangladesh must adopt a long-term strategy to combat pollution effectively, the adviser said.
For the Clean project to be meaningful, tangible progress in pollution reduction must be visible. Merely monitoring and reporting the deterioration of air quality is not enough; concrete actions must be taken. The Department of Environment will launch a hotline where citizens can report air pollution issues during the winter months, added Rizwana.
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"This project must be designed in a way that ensures visible improvements in air quality. If we can reduce dust pollution by 13% and control industrial emissions, we will make significant progress,” she said.
The World Bank has already joined the project, and more development partners should be engaged to ensure that it meets the country's real needs and provides practical solutions for the people, Rizwana also said.
Environment Secretary Dr Farhina Ahmed, DoE Director General Dr Md Kamruzzaman, and World Bank Manager-Environment Christian Albert Peter spoke at the event, among others.