The Enduring Issue of Pollution in Bangladesh

Did you know Bangladesh has the worst air quality in the Indian peninsula due to pollution caused by heavy industrialization? Bangladesh actually takes the number one spot for the most polluted countries ranked worldwide, along with its capital city Dhaka taking the 21st spot in terms of most polluted cities ranked over 2019, according to IQAir. Needless to say this story shows you the steps we can take to improve air quality in Bangladesh. The industrialization of Bangladesh began significantly after the partition of India in 1947. In order to improve their economy, the Bangles had to sacrifice their way of life by drastically industrializing their country. There are multiple factors causing pollution. According to Joseph Webster, Natalie Sinha, and Sarah Meadows in the Atlantic Council said “vehicle emissions, industrial discharges, and the widespread use of kilns to make bricks.” Miraj, a Bangladeshi living in Brooklyn, said “Currently the biggest problem in our country is smoking. What I saw from my personal experience and all the problems is that. There are many people who are infected with respiratory diseases, for whom the smell of smoking is much more harmful, but they are putting their health at risk for smoking at an unbearable level.” Also, during the last 40 years, extreme pollution events occurred in peripheral rivers surrounding Dhaka city and Karnaphuli River in Chittagong city. According to the “National Library of Medicine” the article said “ Metals concentrations in river water were found to be higher in the dry season. Zn, Cu, Fe, Pb, Cd, Ni, Mn, As and Cr concentration was above drinking water standard in most of the rivers and some metals was even above irrigation standard in water from several rivers”. Overall, to fix this issue we should protest and tell everyone to stop throwing garbage on the side of the road and in the river because it affects people’s health by turning into bacterial, viral and parasitic diseases. Also, we should never let industrial companies affect our health because it creates health problems including ear, nose, and throat irritation, headaches, asthma attacks, and an even greater risk of developing cancer.