While Bangladesh is making strides in infrastructural development through the implementation of various mega development projects, the poor air quality of the country often makes global headlines.

The air pollution level in the country is increasing day by day alarmingly and Dhaka city is repeatedly ranked among the top of most polluted cities in the world. Alongside the other sources, thermal power plants also contribute to air pollution as the country’s thermal power plants ignore emission standards.

Against this backdrop, the number of deaths and premature deaths due to exposure to polluted air is increasing in the country. The air pollution kills more people in a year than the number of people who died of Covid-19 in three years, said speakers at a seminar on Wednesday (February 15).

Experts, environmental scientists and rights activists and also lawmakers at the seminar said that the authorities concerned need to take urgent action in order to control terrible air pollution in the country. All development should be according to public health. Environmental aspects and health risks should be taken into consideration while taking up developmental projects, they said.

“We need to change the philosophy of development to protect the environment and the country from the menace of air pollution,” Prof Dr Adil Mohammed Khan, a faculty member at Urban and Regional Planning department of Jahangirnagar University, said at the seminar.

The Center for Atmospheric Pollution Studies (CAPS) arranged the seminar titled ‘Rethinking Emission Standards of Thermal Power Plants in Bangladesh’ in the auditorium of Stamford University Bangladesh in the capital.

Prof Dr Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumder, founding director of the CAPS and chairman at Environmental Science department of Stamford University Bangladesh; presented the keynote paper in the seminar.

Saber Hossain Chowdhury, chairman of parliamentary standing committee on the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change; spoke at the event as the chief guest with Prof Dr Moniruzzaman, vice-chancellor of Stamford University; in the chair.

Moderated by Mahmuda Islam, a senior lecturer at Environmental Science department of the university; the seminar was addressed by Barrister Shameem Haider Patwary, MP, member of Climate Parliament Bangladesh; Dr SM Munjurul Hannan Khan, a former additional secretary and executive director of Nature Conservation Management; Md Shamsuddoha, chief executive of Center for Participatory Research and Development (CPRD); and Dr Khondaker Golam Moazzem, research director of Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD).

Lauri Millyvirta, co-founder and lead analyst of Centre for Research on Energy Clean Air (CREA), Finland; joined the seminar through videoconferencing, while Muhammad Abdul Matin, registrar of Stamford University; Dr Mahmuda Parvin, a faculty member of the university; Gaous Pearee, director at WBB Trust; Muhammad Anowarul Hoque, secretary general at Save Our Sea; students of different educational institutions, journalists and members of various social and environmental organisations were also present in the seminar.

In the keynote speech, the founding chairman of Atmospheric Pollution Study Center (CAPS) Professor Dr. Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumder said, Realizing the health risks of air pollution, the World Health Organization (WHO) has reduced the standard of particulate matter from 10 micrograms per cubic meter to 5 micrograms per cubic meter, but the recently passed Air Pollution (Control) Rules, 2022 No. 1 schedule of air standards increased from 15 micrograms per cubic meter to 35 micrograms per cubic meter.

On the other hand, in schedule 5 of the same rules, the maximum limit of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter standards for stack emissions of thermal power plants have been set at 200, 200 and 50 mg per cubic meter respectively, which is at least 4-5 times higher than the standards of developed countries.

In other words, developed countries adhere to the standards of noise level while doing development activities in their countries, but those standards are not followed by developing countries when working in our country as development partners.

In his speech, Saber Hossain Chowdhury said that the number of people who have lost their lives in the country due to Covid-19 so far in the last three years, more people die from air pollution-related diseases in one year. Air pollution has three times the impact of all pollutants. Therefore, all developments are necessary considering public health.

He further said, “Foreigners do research according to their interest. They maintain their interests first. So, all our development research needs to be done by our indigenous researchers.”

Talking about the indoor air pollution, Saber Hossain Chowdhury said that the air pollution occurs through various activities. Although the poor outdoor air quality in Bangladesh often comes in discussion but the state of indoor air largely goes unreported. However, a large number of people also die due to indoor air pollution. When publishing air pollution data, it is important to publish indoor and outdoor data separately.

Citing related Articles of the constitution of Bangladesh, the ruling party MP said that health risks and environmental aspects should be taken into consideration before planning development projects. Public opinion needs to be taken while preparing the master plan, he added.

Dr Adil Mohammed Khan of Jahangirnagar University, who is also the executive director of the Institute for Planning and Development (IPD); said that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the development projects in the country is flawed. Thermal power plants are causing air pollution in coastal areas where air pollution is not expected. Any thermal power plant should not be built in environmentally hazardous area, he added.

Supporting him, Saber Hossain Chowdhury said that pollution has to be taken into consideration while planning the power plants. Because all development is for people. So public health should be taken into consideration first, he commented.

Barrister Shameem Haider Patwary, MP, said, “The economic value of the mega projects that are being implemented in our country needs to be determined considering the health impacts. We should see all developments with green eyes. Projects that are not environmentally friendly should be scrapped.”

He also said that 1000 youth climate activists should be created in the country so that they can highlight the dangers of Bangladesh everywhere.

Lauri Millyvirta said, “Our standards do not contain sulfur and mercury. It needs to be added. However, pollution levels in factories need to be monitored and strictly controlled by legislation.”

Md Shamsuddoha of CPRD said, “We have to gradually move away from fossil-based production to control the air quality.”

Dr Khondaker Golam Moazzem of CPD said, “We think that green energy and energy security are conflicting matter. Our coasts are submerging due to carbon emissions. However, we are also emitting carbon and raising demands for compensation in various forums.”

He also said that along with the weather report, the air news should be published daily in the media.