AIR pollution continues to worsen while corrective measures remain fragmented and ineffective. Bangladesh faces a persistent health crisis as fine particulate matter increasingly erodes life expectancy. The latest Air Quality Life Index report shows that the average citizen has lost 5.5 years of life as PM2.5 level fails to meet the World Health Organisation guideline of 5µg/m³. In heavily polluted districts such as Dhaka, Gazipur and Narayanganj, potential gains exceed 6.5 years, with Dhaka alone reaching 6.9 years. Everyone of the 166.8 million inhabitants lives in areas exceeding both national and World Health Organisation standards. Even Lalmonirhat, the least polluted district, records concentrations seven times higher than the WHO benchmark. Since 1998, PM2.5 levels have increased by 66 per cent, reducing national life expectancy by 2.4 years. South Asia remains the world’s most polluted region, cutting lives by three years on an average and by more than eight years in hotspots. The public health burden of pollution now outweighs the effects of unsafe water, malnutrition and smoking. Yet, relevant authorities have failed to implement sustained or coordinated solutions.
The scale of the crisis exposes serious weaknesses in governance and policy execution. Brick kilns continue to operate with outdated technology despite court rulings and national regulations. Vehicles bypass emission inspections, contributing heavily to urban smog. And, industrial plants discharge pollutants with minimal oversight. Construction dust blankets entire neighbourhoods without control measures while urbanisation proceeds largely unregulated. Government agencies tasked with enforcement such as the city corporations, the Department of Environment and municipal authorities frequently act in isolation or only after public outrage or extreme pollution episodes. Policy announcements and action plans often remain confined to paper, underfunded and lacking accountability mechanisms. Even when regulations exist, penalties are minimal, compliance is weak and political pressures inhibit rigorous enforcement. Meanwhile, the absence of an integrated national strategy means that interventions are fragmented, reactive and insufficiently targeted. Real-time monitoring is scarce, public reporting is limited and industrial, vehicular and construction emissions continue largely unchecked. As a result, millions of citizens are exposed to chronic air pollution while the economic and social costs of lost productivity, rising healthcare burdens and reduced quality of life, continue to escalate unchecked.
Decisive, time-bound action is now essential. The government should enforce emission standards across industries, phase out outdated brick kilns, regulate urban construction dust and expand monitoring with public transparency. Authorities responsible for environment, health and industry should coordinate their efforts and be held accountable for progress. A comprehensive, enforceable strategy should be adopted without procrastination to prevent avoidable harm and restore public confidence in the government’s commitment to protect its citizens.
