INHALING dust is calamitous for survival. Nobody knows it better than people of Dhaka, who cannot leave the city for their livelihood (employment, education, business, own home etc). Both organic and inorganic particles of dust are in huge quantity in the air of the city. People of Dhaka, without any research, can normally feel the presence of excessive dust in the air. Research reports confirm that Dhaka has the world's second highest air pollution. Eye sore, cough, sneeze, asthma, various bronchial disorders etc. are the result of dust inhalation. The longer the people have to inhale dust, the greater the risk to their health. Dust is so heavy that it looks like smoke. People are afraid of getting out of home because of dust. The dust pollution is affecting the daily activities of the citizens at large.
In Dhaka city, roads are being dug indiscriminately for gas or electric lines and are left open for an inordinately long time which is one the main reasons for dust pollution in dry season. This creates further malady during the wet season and makes life more miserable for the commuters.
The citizens of Dhaka would like to know the actions taken by the authorities to remove the curse of dust from our environment. People need to be protected from air pollution and the concerned authorities must ensure it at all costs. They cannot be asked to wear masks to keep away from dusts for an indefinite period of time. Using personal protective equipment like mask can only be a temporary arrangement and the present condition of air pollution must be improved. Young children and elderly people are the worst victims of air pollution as they are more susceptible to air-borne diseases.
Qurratul- Ain
East West University
Dhaka
