Status of Air Quality and State-of-art Control Measures in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Environmental problems in all major cities of Bangladesh occur due to the lack of environmental facilities, such as infrastructure, coupled with the rapid rise in transportation demand. It is also caused by the huge number of non-motorized vehicles on roads, lack of application of adequate and proper traffic management schemes, improper landuse planning, industrial growth, construction activities, resuspension of dusts, and open burning. Ever increasing traffic congestion in the streets, use of low leaded gasoline without catalytic converters, increasing number of two stroke engine vehicles and high content of sulfur in diesel enhance sufferings of the inhabitants of Dhaka from vehicle emissions. A study has been performed under the direction of Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) during February 2000 on improvement of transportation and environment in Dhaka. This paper is based on JBIC supported study results. The paper has reviewed existing transportation problems and databases on traffic pollution to have insight into the state of traffic pollution in Dhaka. It also evaluated existing transportation and environmental related projects of the Government of Bangladesh and identified the sectors where development partners, especially Japanese Government can consider exploring their assistance in improving air quality in urban areas of Bangladesh. This study has also assessed the feasibility of introducing CNG to automobiles in the short and long term.