On a mid-February morning this year, 65-year-old Abul Kashem was standing in the outpatient department of the 250-bed TB hospital in the capital’s Agargaon. A long-time asthma patient, he found his condition worsening towards the end of winter.
Speaking to this correspondent, Abul Kashem, a resident of Adabar, said, “The cold has become milder than before, but the cough is not stopping.” The doctors told him that his condition was not just due to age; Polluted air was also an important factor.
The number of patients like Kashem is increasing. Hospital data shows that 9,072 people sought treatment at the TB hospital in January this year, while the number was 8,611 in January last year. This represents an increase of more than 400 patients within a year.
Doctors say the rise in chest and respiratory diseases is not an isolated phenomenon; The role of air pollution is becoming increasingly clear.
Air pollution is not the only cause of lung disease. Research shows it is linked to increased risk of heart disease, greater likelihood of diabetes, higher mortality rates from dengue, and even a shade of depression. Air pollution in Bangladesh has been discussed for many years. But recent international studies indicate that this is not simply an environmental crisis. This is a profound public health crisis.
Research conducted in different contexts in Dhaka, Rajshahi and rural areas presents a worrying picture. Pollution is increasing. Pollution caused diseases are also increasing. It is also affecting the economy.
Amidst the various projects on pollution and their repeated failures, the suffering of the people is being ignored. Additionally, light rainfall during the winter season is also decreasing, leading to limited opportunities for rainfall to reduce dust and pollution.