Staff Reporter:
Syeda Rizwana Hasan, advisor to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, has said her government will form a task force immediately to control air pollution in Dhaka and adjoining areas during the dry season.
The task force will work until the next monsoon to make the government efforts a success, the adviser told reports after ending an inter-ministerial meeting held at the secretariat in Dhaka on Thursday.
“Certain areas are set to be declared as No Brickfield Zones,” she said, adding that the air pollution cannot be resolved overnight unless the citizens are made aware.
Encouraging the citizens to wear masks, she further informed that old vehicles will be removed within the next six months and the police have been instructed to restrict open trucks from entering the capital.
“Sources of air pollution are being identified. Stricter steps are being taken to control dust from construction work, emissions from brick kilns and vehicle exhaust,” she said, emphasising the importance of raising public awareness, enforcing laws, and enhancing monitoring systems to address the issue effectively.
She further instructed stakeholders to spray water to reduce dust during construction work, cover construction materials and use protective barriers.
Additionally, she stressed the need for planting grass along roadsides, ensuring designated waste disposal areas and banning the burning of waste.
Taking part in the meeting, Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain, advisor to the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, said that initiatives will be taken to recover canals and develop open spaces as playgrounds.
He also emphasised the need for integrated efforts to improve the country’s environmental quality.
The meeting was chaired by the acting secretary of the Local Government Division and attended by officials from various ministries, agencies and expert representatives.
The meeting also decided to enforce effective laws to control pollution and regular monitoring will be carried out.
All necessary steps, including regular water spray to control dust, will be taken to this end.
