Sayeed Muhammad: With Bangladesh continuing maintaining its growth, solutions to its air pollution must be worked on carefully so they do not affect development, said US Ambassador Marcia Bernicat yesterday. She made the comment while speaking as a discussion styled “Air Quality in Bangladesh – Challenges and Solutions” at EMK Centre in the city marking the Air Quality Awareness Week 2018. In order to fight the problem, the ongoing development projects, construction works and motor-vehicles cannot be stopped, she said, adding, Bangladesh needs to find more ways to bring venture capital to the country. And for this the country needs to implement the innovative ideas of its young people with funds to work for cleaner air, Bernicat said. Dubbing air pollution as a seasonal issue, the speakers said the air quality in Bangladesh, especially in Dhaka, drops drastically during dry season with brick kilns being the biggest contributor to the pollution. DoE official Abdul Motalib said a study conducted from 2011 to 2013 shows that the country’s brick kilns contribute 58% to the total air pollution. His colleague Golam Sarowar said pollution remains deeper in winter at the ground level as vehicles’ emission gets trapped due to the fog and low temperature. DU Prof Abdus Salam said the pollution produced by brick kilns and other ways cannot be washed out as there is no rain in dry season, worsening the air pollution. Talking over personal experience, Bernicat said she had asthma again as after coming to Bangladesh in January 2015.
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