The High Court has issued a rule to the concerned parties asking them to explain why measures will not be taken to prevent air pollution in Dhaka.
Environment secretary, director general of the Department of Environment, and chief executive officers of Dhaka North and South City Corporations have been asked to respond to the rule within the next four weeks.
A High Court division bench comprising Justice Kazi Zinat Haque and Justice Ainun Nahar Siddiqua passed the order after hearing a writ in this regard on Sunday. Writ petitioner Md. Monir Uddin heard the case in court.
Writ petitioner Md. Monir Uddin, a Supreme Court lawyer, wrote a letter to the director general of the Department of Environment to prevent air pollution in Dhaka. The letter states that the worst air quality in the last nine years was on December 14, during which the average air quality was 288. That is, if the air quality index is 0-50, the air is considered clean, if it is 51-100, it is tolerable or acceptable, and if it is between 101-150, it is unhealthy for sensitive people (children and the elderly). If it is 151-200, it is unhealthy for everyone, and if the air quality index is 201-300, the air is said to be very unhealthy. An AQI score of 301 or more is considered hazardous or dangerous, which poses a significant health risk to residents.
A report by the Department of Environment and the World Bank in March 2019 mentioned that the three main sources of air pollution in Dhaka are brick kilns, vehicle exhaust, and construction site dust.
On this day, the air quality in Dhaka was 250. Dhaka has been suffering from air pollution for a long time. In such a situation, if environmentally friendly measures are not taken to purify Dhaka's air, taking into account the environmental aspects, then Dhaka will soon become an abandoned city.
The letter requested that appropriate action be taken considering these issues. However, as the necessary action was not taken, lawyer Md. Monir Uddin filed a writ petition in the High Court.
