Shamiran Biswas

The trees of Dhaka are not good. Their normal life cycle is affected by dust and air pollution! The tree that will survive with oxygen, we are careless and neglecting that tree! Experts say there is no alternative to caring for trees to sustain their existence. But despite knowing everything, there is no initiative from the concerned circles. The trees of the roadsides are dusty in the dust of Dhaka capital. The layer of dust is so full that the light does not get a chance to air even the new twenties! The tree that has started to bear new fruit is dying.

Just by sprinkling a little water, new buds are coming out, the existence of life. The trees tell the merciless city a silent complaint! People live with the oxygen of plants! But when the dust layer accumulates on the leaves, it is not possible for the plant to produce oxygen. Dhaka's air is becoming more toxic. Seeing the dust of the capital, I feel that we are living in a wrong city. Our citizens should be aware of trees. Cracks in the road, building materials including bricks, sand, cement and other unguarded roads are scattered around with the wheels of the cars, flying and accumulating on the leaves of the trees. A recent survey shows; 436 metric tons of leaf dust in Dhaka every day.

The amount of oxygen in Dhaka city is decreasing day by day but it is noticeable that due to this the respiratory diseases of children and elderly people are increasing day by day. According to the data of The State of Global Air 2023, about 90 thousand people in Bangladesh died in 2019 only due to air pollution related diseases. Bangladesh ranks fifth in the world in terms of deaths from air pollution-related diseases. It is possible to keep the trees healthy only by keeping the dust and air pollution free and we have that capability. But unfortunately, sincere efforts are not met by our concerned circles.

According to researchers and environmentalists, Dhaka needs trees like deodaru mango, jam and banyan. Those that survive extreme pollution. Also, proper care is required for existing trees. Besides, planting trees that need less water in Dhaka city. Proper research and strict implementation of policies are essential to reduce air pollution in cities. The green trees have turned gray due to the accumulation of dust. Due to lack of proper maintenance, trees are dying, oxygen is decreasing and people are getting health risks. It is important to ensure that water is not used for tree and road cleaning. Now is the time to declare war on dust pollution, with an active role for all concerned in a concerted action by the Department of Environment.

Generally, an AKI between 100 and 200 is considered unhealthy for sensitive people. Similarly, if AQI is between 201 and 300, the respective city environment is considered bad for living and if it is between 301 and 400, it is considered dangerous. AQI is an index to measure air quality. Government agencies use the index to determine how clean or polluted a particular city's air is and whether it may affect human health or cause concern. The overall AQI of Bangladesh is determined based on five pollutant criteria. They are particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and ozone. Dhaka has been plagued with air pollution problems for a long time. Dhaka's air quality generally becomes unhealthy during winter and improves during monsoons.

A report by the Department of Environment (DOE) and the World Bank in March 2019 noted that the three main sources of air pollution in Dhaka are brick kilns, vehicle fumes and dust from construction sites. Usually, when the monsoon season starts in mid-June, the air in Dhaka starts to freshen. The air is clear from June to October. Air pollution is one of the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide, not just in Bangladesh. Various studies have recognized that prolonged exposure to polluted air increases the risk of heart disease, chronic respiratory disease, lung infections and cancer.

Air is getting polluted due to unplanned urbanization and industrialization. There is a lot of construction going on in the capital which is creating dust. From unregulated construction, industrial plants in residential areas, to brick kilns, nothing is done according to the rules. There are at least 5,000 brick kilns around Dhaka city, which are polluting the air due to carbon emissions. The amount of sulfur dioxide in the air mixes with water and irritates the eyes. It causes many health risks starting from inflammation in the lungs. To escape from these, there is no alternative to follow the laws and rules that are in place.

The writer is a, Agriculture and Environment Specialist, Dhaka.