MORE DUST DUE TO CONSTRUCTION WORKS
Construction works increase in Dhaka during winter as builders prefer the season with less or no rain. Construction and repair of buildings and roads and other infrastructure lead to more air pollution and suffering of people.
Currently, drains are being constructed at Mohakhali-Gulshan Link Road. “Dust menace increased from the day they started digging the road and constructing the drains. We have a cough and our throats feel dry. Still, there’s no sprinkling of water to reduce the dust. Maybe things will be better when the work ends,” said Md Alam, a roadside vendor.
The authorities were continuing the construction works in an unplanned way, said Farzana Yasmin, working in a private firm and a regular pedestrian in the neighbourhood. “If you go from Amtali to Wireless intersection, you’ll find the road dug and the soil and debris kept at a side. Those particles are always flying in the air. You can’t take off your mask and breathe in peace,” she said.
Road construction from Agargaon to Shyamoli is nearly completed. Patients coming for treatment in the hospitals there and also employees of the government offices and citizens suffered a lot from dust while the construction work was on.
Haider Ali from Thakurgaon has been staying at the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation for the past three months for the treatment of his brother in a road accident.
“There was too much dust when the road construction was in full swing. When we came out to eat at the nearby restaurants, the food felt sandy. The construction work is not completed as yet and therefore, the dust remains. It could be better if the authorities sprayed water regularly,” he said.
Serajul Islam, the owner of a hardware store at Mirpur’s Kazipara, said he “almost died from asthma”. “As long as the metro rail construction continued, my business faced financial loss and I spent thousands for medical treatment; that too only for respiratory illness,” he said.
“Now the dust problem has reduced as the construction work has ended. My shop is no longer covered with dust and I, too, feel better.”
Many Dhaka residents said continuous construction work of residential buildings adds to the air pollution. Ali Newaz, a resident of Uttara, believes his child was suffering from asthma due to the ongoing building construction work next to his house.
“The sand, brick, and cement needed for the house construction are kept openly beside the street. Those particles fly into my home. We need to clean the house with broomsticks two to three times a day. The curtains turn white with dust. My 5-year-old is already suffering from asthma.”
TRAFFIC POLICE, SERVICE PROVIDERS AT RISK
Members of the traffic police are highly affected by the air pollution in Dhaka. One of them working at Azimpur said dust and pollutants fill the air when he works on the road, causing diseases like an allergy. They have no option but to work, he said.
“There’s no end to our plight. We have to stand and work for eight hours with dust and pollution around us. Upon returning home, a huge amount of dust comes out of my clothes,” said Sergeant Zahirul Islam, who was on duty at the aeroplane crossing point of the Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Traffic Zone.
“Many of our colleagues in the traffic department suffer from allergies and asthma as winter hits because of the dust and pollution. I can’t realise it now and just perform my duties. But the manifestation will be there when I grow old.”
“I need to visit the doctor regularly as I have asthma. Another colleague of mine uses an inhaler,’ said another traffic police standing next to Zahirul.
Workers and staff in different service sectors suffer the same as the traffic police. Iqramul Hossain works as a delivery man at a food delivery company in Dhaka. “The roads are full of dust. You see, there’s no visibility. We’ve to work in this environment. It feels suffocating to cycle wearing a mask while delivering food. At the same time, I can’t take off the mask fearing the dust and pollution,” he said.