Chronic Environmental Problems of Dhaka City

Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, is one of the most polluted cities in the world. More than twenty million residents experience this harsh reality every day, while any foreign visitor stepping off a plane immediately senses the suffocating air and chaotic environment. The city’s toxic conditions make survival a daily battle, with chronic respiratory diseases, heart problems, and reduced life expectancy becoming the norm rather than the exception.
Having spent the last month living in Dhaka, I am struck by how the environmental hazards here mirror those in war zones or highly toxic industrial towns in China. Just as heavy metal exposure in those factory cities leads to lung cancer and neurological disorders, Dhaka’s pollution is slowly poisoning its inhabitants. The difference? This crisis is entirely preventable—but remains ignored by those in power.
Air Pollution: A Man-Made Disaster
Dhaka’s air pollution is at dangerously high levels, primarily driven by vehicle emissions, industrial discharges, and unchecked construction. The city frequently ranks among the most polluted globally, with particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) choking the air and lungs of its people. Brick kilns, poorly regulated factories, and old, unfit vehicles spew toxic fumes daily. The technology and solutions to mitigate this crisis exist, but neither governance nor industry seems interested in implementing them. A bit of common sense and responsible leadership could transform this crisis, yet apathy prevails.

Water Pollution: Liquid Poison
The once-mighty Buriganga, Shitalakshya, and Turag rivers—lifelines of the city—have become toxic sewers. Industrial waste, household sewage, and plastic pollution have turned these water bodies into blackened, lifeless streams. Textile and dyeing factories discharge untreated chemicals, rendering the water unfit for human use and devastating aquatic ecosystems.
Even the drinking water supplied by Dhaka’s water authority is dangerously contaminated. Consuming it is a gamble with one’s health, akin to the water crises seen in war-torn countries like Yemen or Sudan, where cholera and typhoid outbreaks run rampant. Wealthier residents invest in private water purifiers, creating a booming business. Ironically, the government could provide safe drinking water at a fraction of what people are forced to spend, yet neglect and mismanagement persist.
Traffic Chaos and Noise Pollution: Mental and Physical Strain
Traffic congestion in Dhaka is beyond rational comprehension. The streets are flooded with outdated, poorly maintained trucks and buses, some dating back five or six decades. With no proper urban planning, the city’s roads remain in perpetual gridlock, wasting fuel, increasing emissions, and stretching human patience to the breaking point. Noise pollution from incessant honking, construction, and overcrowded streets creates a psychological strain comparable to life in a conflict zone. Chronic stress, anxiety, and PTSD-like symptoms are becoming increasingly common among residents. While Dhaka is not an active war zone, the mental toll on its people is strikingly similar.
Waste Management: A City Choking on Its Own Garbage
Dhaka, one of the world’s most densely populated cities, generates thousands of tons of waste daily. Yet, its waste collection and disposal system are catastrophically inadequate. Overflowing garbage, clogged drains, and open sewage create perfect breeding grounds for deadly diseases like dengue and malaria. The situation mirrors conditions in refugee camps, where lack of sanitation fuels constant outbreaks of illness. Open dumping and the burning of waste further contaminate the air and soil, exacerbating an already dire situation.
Dhaka Needs an Environmental Revolution
The environmental hazards of living in Dhaka are as deadly as those in war-torn regions or toxic industrial sites. Without urgent intervention, the city risks becoming entirely uninhabitable. The time for empty promises is over—Dhaka needs a mass uprising, a movement akin to the July Revolution that gave the nation its Second Liberation. A citizen-led anti-pollution revolt could force the government to take immediate, meaningful action to protect public health. The choice to prevent a public health catastrophe is stark—take immediate action or watch the city suffocate under its own neglect.