Dhaka was ranked third worst among the megacities with polluted air by the World Health Organization (WHO), last month.

The capital has continuously been ranked as one of the most polluted cities in the world for the past few years based on its air quality.

The government has now taken an initiative to introduce the Clean Air Act.

The inaugural workshop on formulation of the act was held at the city’s Brac Centre Inn on Wednesday. The next will be held in August.

Jointly organized by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Department of Environment, Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (Bela) and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet), more than 50 representatives of different public and private stakeholders attended the workshop.

They shared concerns and opinions about the initiative and discussed a number of key factors involved with pollution.

They were, however, doubtful that the Clean Air Act would be implemented properly. Rules violators could ignore the law, like other similar laws.

The participants also discussed a number of key factors including identification of pollution sources in dense areas, indoor pollution, emission standards, air pollution caused by wastes, waste management, industrial cluster, technological adaptation, incentives and guidelines for setting up of small industries or factories, monitoring, access to information, accountability of authorities, investment in awareness building among mass to change the attitude towards environment, and impacts on health.

Emphasising the necessity for the new act, Bela Chief Executive Syeda Rizwana Hasan said there was no alternative to formulation and implementation of a new and specific act to stop air pollution and ensure clean air.

She said: “We need a comprehensive act with proper guidelines on institutional arrangements. And that is the challenge.”

Agreeing with her, Secretary in Charge of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Abdullah Al Mohsin Chowdhury said they have decided to formulate a comprehensive act through the Clean Air and Sustainable Environment (CASE) Project.

The ministry will also introduce a mobile app soon to assess air quality, said CASE Project Director Dr SM Munjurul Hannan Khan.



