Bangladesh Calls on Citizens to Remain Indoors Amidst Severe Air Pollution Concerns
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Dhaka, Dec 10 (NationPress) The interim government of Bangladesh has urged individuals with health concerns to remain indoors because of the deteriorating air quality in the capital, Dhaka, and other regions of the country. They have also recommended that individuals wear masks when they are outside.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change released this advisory on Tuesday, indicating that the air quality in Dhaka and its neighboring areas has worsened to levels that are unhealthy and at times hazardous (AQI exceeding 250).
"Given the current situation, the public is encouraged to wear masks when outdoors, while those who are sensitive are advised to limit their time outside to only what is necessary," stated the advisory, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
Addressing air pollution is a complex challenge that takes time. Nevertheless, the government has called upon all relevant stakeholders to provide their full cooperation in tackling this issue.
On Tuesday at 9:00 a.m. local time, Dhaka recorded an air quality index (AQI) of 241, making it the city with the most polluted air globally.
An AQI reading between 151 and 200 is classified as unhealthy, while 201 to 300 is regarded as very unhealthy, and scores from 301 to 400 are deemed hazardous, posing significant health risks to the population.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution is responsible for the deaths of approximately 7 million people worldwide each year, primarily due to increased mortality rates from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.
