Environment Pollution in Bangladesh: 18,000 died in Dhaka in 2015 https://www.thedailystar.net/environment/environment-pollution-in-dhak...
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Pollution the killer
2.34 lakh deaths in Bangladesh in 2015 linked to environmental pollution, of which 80,000 in
urban areas, says WB report
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1 of 14 3/25/2021, 6:40 PM
Environment Pollution in Bangladesh: 18,000 died in Dhaka in 2015 https://www.thedailystar.net/environment/environment-pollution-in-dhak...
Staff Correspondent
Bangladesh saw around 234,000 deaths, including 80,000 in urban areas, due to
environmental pollution and related health risks in 2015, making it one of the worst
affected countries in the world, reveals a World Bank report.
The number was more than 10 times that of deaths the same year from road accidents,
which was 21,286, it pointed out.
Some 18,000 lives and 578,000 years of potential life were lost in Dhaka city in 2015 --
the second least livable city in the world, showing the urgency to immediately
address the city's environmental issues.
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Environment Pollution in Bangladesh: 18,000 died in Dhaka in 2015 https://www.thedailystar.net/environment/environment-pollution-in-dhak...
Realizing the Promise of a Great Dhaka
Deaths due to various causes totalled 843,000 in the country that year. Of those, nearly
28 percent were caused by environmental pollution -- the highest among South Asian
nations, according to the report released yesterday.
The average rate of such deaths in South Asia is nearly 26 percent, while it is 16 percent
worldwide.
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Environment Pollution in Bangladesh: 18,000 died in Dhaka in 2015 https://www.thedailystar.net/environment/environment-pollution-in-dhak...
The World Bank said this in this year's country environmental analysis report titled
“Enhancing Opportunities for Clean and Resilient Growth in Urban Bangladesh”
unveiled at a hotel in the capital.
Air pollution in South Asian countries is the highest in the world with fine particulate
matter measuring 2.5 microgram both outdoor and indoor. This is by far the most
leading environmental risk in Bangladesh, causing about 21 percent of all deaths in the
country, according to the report.
Nearly one million people in Bangladesh, mostly poor, are at risk of lead
contamination, which can lead to IQ loss and neurological damage, especially for
children, and can increase the risk of miscarriage and stillbirth among pregnant
women, the report cited.
In greater Dhaka, the sites contaminated by heavy metals are mostly in poorer
neighbourhoods.
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The report focuses on three areas: cost of environmental degradation; clean and
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Environment Pollution in Bangladesh: 18,000 died in Dhaka in 2015 https://www.thedailystar.net/environment/environment-pollution-in-dhak...
resilient cities; and institutions for clean industrial growth.
Based on data gathered from 11 air quality monitoring stations in eight urban areas,
concentration of 2.5 microgram particulate matter from 2013 to 2015 was estimated
five times the Bangladesh standard and eight times the World Health Organisation
standard.
Household air pollution disproportionately affects women and young children, who
spend most of the time inside houses. Pregnant women are especially vulnerable to this
hazard.
“Bangladesh pays a high price for environment degradation and pollution in its urban
areas. This puts its strong growth at risk,” said Rajashree Paralkar, acting WB country
director for Bangladesh.
Addressing the programme, Anisul Islam Mahmud, minister for environment, forest
and climate change, said 58 percent of air pollution are caused by illegal brick kilns, 10
percent by vehicles, 20 percent by construction activities, and the rest by various other
factors, including industries.
Anisul said his ministry is working on a new law likely to be passed during this
government's tenure.
Kseniya Lvovsky, WB practice manager for environmental and natural resources, said TOP
environmental conservation is doable if there are strong will and planned
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Environment Pollution in Bangladesh: 18,000 died in Dhaka in 2015 https://www.thedailystar.net/environment/environment-pollution-in-dhak...
urbanisation.
According to the WB report, parts of Dhaka city are more susceptible to flood
inundation due to filling-up of wetlands and construction of high-rises on sand-filled
areas.
Unplanned urbanisation is also taking a toll on smaller cities as well as towns like
Pabna. Since 1990, Pabna lost half of its wetlands, and its lifeline, the Ichamati river, is
dying.
Vehicles move as a thick cloud of dust and smoke reduces visibility in Dholaipar area of the capital. The photo was
taken yesterday afternoon. Photo: Amran Hossain
ECONOMIC LOSS
The economic cost of the deaths and disability in terms of labour output has been
estimated at $1.4 billion in all urban areas of Bangladesh and at 310 million in Dhaka
city alone, equivalent to 0.6 percent and 0.1 percent of the country's GDP in 2015.
Given the growing environmental challenges that Bangladeshi cities face, the WB
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analyses the impacts and causes of pollution levels and degradation of natural
resources in Dhaka and other rapidly growing cities.
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Environment Pollution in Bangladesh: 18,000 died in Dhaka in 2015 https://www.thedailystar.net/environment/environment-pollution-in-dhak...
Over the past three decades, Bangladesh has experienced dramatic increase in
pollution linked to urbanisation. Rapid growth of readymade garment industry and
increase in urban population from less than 40 million in 2006 to more than 55 million
in 2015 had been key factors in exposing the growing urban population to
environmental hazards.
CANCER RISK
Workers in the country's industrial establishments, including micro, small, and
medium facilities that use harmful materials as inputs, face the risk of cancer, chronic
respiratory disease, and other health impacts due to the lack of mitigation practices,
including the use of personal protective equipment.
The WB report mentioned that occupational pollutants such as asbestos, polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbons and silica are used as industrial inputs. The other pollutants
include sulfuric acid, trichloroethylene, arsenic, benzene, beryllium, cadmium,
chromium, diesel exhaust, formaldehyde, and nickel in the form of gases and
asthmagens.
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Environment Pollution in Bangladesh: 18,000 died in Dhaka in 2015 https://www.thedailystar.net/environment/environment-pollution-in-dhak...
WOMEN IMPACTED
Women and girls bear a disproportionate burden of limited access to clean and safe
water. Water pollution and water scarcity affect women's health, nutrition, workload,
and, consequently, their opportunities to overcome poverty.
Poor sanitation, lack of safe water supply and arsenic contamination in groundwater
lead to diarrhoeal and other diseases causing deaths.
Urbanisation and industrialisation have increased the amount of waste generation.
Without proper collection and disposal, solid waste clogs channels, leading to urban
floods. Unsafe recycling of hazardous waste such as used lead-acid batteries poses a
growing public health hazard.
An estimated 22,000 workers in Bangladesh's ship-breaking industry are exposed to
increased levels of asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, cadmium, lead, and mercury in
the naval and merchant ships they dismantle.
DISAPPEARING WETLANDS, RIVERS
Dhaka, ranked as the ninth largest megacity in the world, has seen its population rise
by about three times from 6.8 million to 18.2 million over the past quarter of a century,
the report cited.
Continued unplanned urbanisation, filling-up of wetlands and rivers, and shrinking of
a canal network across the city has exacerbated urban flooding and contributed to
various environmental problems.
Flooded roads contribute to traffic congestion and health hazards from the spread of
vector-borne diseases.
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Environment Pollution in Bangladesh: 18,000 died in Dhaka in 2015 https://www.thedailystar.net/environment/environment-pollution-in-dhak...
Dhaka's Detailed Area Plan identified and recommended protection of 30,252 hectares
of flood flow zones and 2,240 hectares of water retention areas to reduce the risk of
flooding.
But in just eight years since 2010, 41 percent of flood flow zones and 21 percent of
water retention areas have been converted, raised, and used for other purposes,
including settlements, industries and brick kilns.
At least 100 hectares of four rivers around Dhaka city -- Buriganga, Balu, Turag and
Shitalakkhya -- have been encroached upon to make way for various commercial and
residential settlements.
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Environment Pollution in Bangladesh: 18,000 died in Dhaka in 2015 https://www.thedailystar.net/environment/environment-pollution-in-dhak...
Dhaka wetland -WB
WAYS OUT
To put Bangladesh on a greener growth trajectory, the WB recommended that the government strengthen
policies and institutions, and enforce environmental standards with a shift to cleaner technologies to
contain the increasing air, water and soil pollution as well as industrial pollution.
Bangladesh had its first-ever legal framework “National Environment Policy” on governing environmental
conservation in 1992. Since then, more than 25 laws, policies, guidelines, and regulations have been
formulated to regulate the environmental footprint.
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10 of 14 3/25/2021, 6:40 PM
Environment Pollution in Bangladesh: 18,000 died in Dhaka in 2015 https://www.thedailystar.net/environment/environment-pollution-in-dhak...
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Environment Pollution in Bangladesh: 18,000 died in Dhaka in 2015 https://www.thedailystar.net/environment/environment-pollution-in-dhak...
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Environment Pollution in Bangladesh: 18,000 died in Dhaka in 2015 https://www.thedailystar.net/environment/environment-pollution-in-dhak...
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