Four types of pollution -- air pollution, unsafe water, poor sanitation and hygiene, and lead exposure caused over 272,000 premature deaths in 2019.

Air pollution has the most detrimental effect on health, leading to nearly 55 per cent of premature deaths. Air pollution alone cost 17.6 per cent of the GDP in 2019. In recent years, Dhaka has frequently become the top air-polluted city in the world.

World Bank's Country Director for Bhutan and Bangladesh Abdoulaye Seck said, "For Bangladesh, addressing environmental risks is both a development and an economic priority. We have seen around the world that when economic growth comes at the cost of the environment, it cannot be sustained. But it is possible to grow cleaner and greener without growing slower." 

The report said Bangladesh faces alarming levels of pollution and environmental health risks that disproportionately harm the most vulnerable people, the poor, children under five, the elderly, and women.

Environmental pollution is taking a heavy toll on children. Lead poisoning is causing irreversible damage to children’s brain development, resulting in an estimated annual loss of nearly 20 million IQ points, it added.

Environment, Forests, and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury was the chief guest at the function. He highlighted the importance of the nation's health.

“We will never say that we have no problem. We acknowledge that we have various types of environmental problems. However, we will have to evaluate the actual cost of pollution across the country. We are committed by the Constitution to ensure a healthy life for the people. But we have many problems including finance and technical. Resolving financial and technical problems is very much needed to address the pollution.   

Around 40 per cent of Bangladesh’s finance in the climate change sector has come as a loan. It is very unfortunate. Big countries that are responsible for pollution are not taking the responsibility to tackle climate change. We are taking the responsibility. In this case, the donors should donate or provide loans in easy conditions.”

The World Bank report also said timely and urgent interventions for air pollution control; improved water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH); and control of lead exposure could prevent over 133,000 premature deaths every year in Bangladesh.

It identifies environmental priorities, assesses interventions, and includes recommendations to strengthen governance and institutional capacity for environmental management.

Air pollution could be reduced by investing in producing green energy, using green fuel in household works, and strict control preventing pollution from the industrial factories, noted the report. 

@ The article was published on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on March 29, 2024 and has been rewritten in English by Golam Rosul.