New Delhi, Feb 5 (NationPress) Climate change and industrial pollution are exacerbating the healthcare crisis in Bangladesh, as highlighted by a recent media report.

The Irish Times noted that even though Bangladesh contributes only around 0.3% to global CO2 emissions from combustible fuels, the air quality in its capital, Dhaka, frequently ranks among the worst globally.

This deteriorating air quality is leading to a rise in diseases like asthma, lung cancer, bronchitis, pneumonia, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the capital.

Climate scientists assert that Bangladesh, due to its low-lying terrain, is among the most susceptible nations to the impacts of climate change.

With a current population of approximately 174 million, projections indicate that by 2050, it could evolve into one of the most densely populated regions, according to a recent UN report.

If environmental pollution continues to escalate, it could lead to a total collapse of Bangladesh’s healthcare system, warned Dr. Mustafijur Rahman from the National Institute of Diseases of the Chest and Hospital in Dhaka.

Dr. Rahman pointed out that many residents live in slums near industrial zones where the sewage infrastructure is inadequate for decent living conditions, resulting in a transfer of infections among the population.

“Brickfields surrounding Dhaka are a health risk, as are garment factories and tanneries, which release harmful emissions and dispose of toxic waste into the rivers, contaminating local water sources,” the report mentioned.

The report also highlighted the steep healthcare expenses that often plunge families into debt, compelling them to seek work abroad, sometimes resorting to perilous methods to cross into Europe.

“Political instability in our country exacerbates this situation,” lamented Dr. Md. Safiun Islam, a 50-year-old assistant professor of respiratory medicine at the hospital.

He noted an “exponential increase” in patient numbers over the past five years, with some days seeing 20-30 individuals waiting for ICU admission.

Addressing the “pollution-producing sectors” is an urgent priority, he emphasized.

With elections scheduled for February 12, the first since the ousting of long-standing Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, Dr. Rahman called for initiatives to segregate industrial zones from residential areas, alongside educating Dhaka’s populace about sanitation and hygiene practices to minimize health risks.

He urged the incoming government to undertake “strategic planning” and ensure the “right individuals in appropriate positions.”