The High Court yesterday issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why the authorities concerned should not be directed to take necessary steps to curb air pollution in Dhaka.

The HC bench of Justice Kazi Zinat Hoque and Justice Aynun Nahar Siddiqua issued the rule.

Secretary to the environment ministry, director general of DoE and CEOs of Dhaka south and north city corporations have been made respondent to the rule, which is returnable in four weeks.

Manir Uddin, a Supreme Court lawyer, sent a letter to the DoE DG seeking steps to take effective measures to curb air pollution in Dhaka.

According to the letter, it is said that Dhaka has topped the list of cities with the worst air quality with an AQI index of 288 on December 14, which was the worst in the last nine years.

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As per the AQI Index, an AQI between 0-50 considered as good while 51-100 considers as moderate and AQI between 151 and 200 is considered 'unhealthy' while 201-300 is 'very unhealthy' and 301-400 is considered 'hazardous', posing severe health risks to residents.

A report published by the DoE and the World Bank in March 2019 pointed out that the three main sources of air pollution in Dhaka "are brick kilns, fumes from vehicles, and dust from construction sites".

On February 19, last year, Dhaka topped 124 countries with an AQI index of 250.

Dhaka has been suffering from air pollution for a long time. If environmental friendly measures are not taken to purify the city's air, Dhaka may soon become an uninhabitable city, the letter said.

In light of this concern, a request has been made to take appropriate actions in this regard.

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