Govt must not bow to pressure

There is nothing new to say about Dhaka’s unhealthy environment and the extent of its air pollution. For the past several years, the IQAir index, which monitors global air quality, has consistently placed Dhaka between first and fifth in terms of pollution levels. The problem worsens in winter. For now, frequent rainfall has slightly reduced pollution levels, yet on 24 September Dhaka ranked fifth among 127 cities worldwide for air pollution. One particular reason for this uncontrolled pollution in the capital is the operation of unfit vehicles.

Every day, Dhaka’s sky remains covered in black smoke. On the city’s roads, thousands of old, unfit vehicles spewing smoke have become one of the major sources of pollution. According to the Department of Environment, at least 15 percent of Dhaka’s total air pollution comes from these decrepit vehicles. Doctors say this has sharply increased serious health risks for city residents, including asthma, breathing difficulties, heart disease and lung cancer.

According to existing laws, buses and minibuses more than 20 years old and trucks and covered vans more than 25 years old cannot operate on roads. But due to the influence of owners’ and workers’ associations and irregularities at BRTA, these vehicles continue to operate freely. Government figures show that currently there are more than 41,000 trucks and covered vans over 25 years old, and nearly 40,000 buses and minibuses, many of them without valid fitness certificates.

In July this year, the government launched a drive to remove unfit vehicles, but suspended it after transport owners’ and workers’ associations threatened strikes. Worse still, the government has decided to offer new concessions to vehicle owners. As part of this, the age limit for importing reconditioned buses and trucks has been increased from five to 12 years. Plans are also being made to provide old vehicle owners with low-interest loans and tax benefits. Experts warn that such relaxed policies will only worsen the dominance of old vehicles.

Transport analysts argue that if the government prioritises the interests of vehicle owners over environmental and public health risks, Dhaka’s pollution cannot be brought under control. In their view, unless old vehicles are removed from the market, anarchy on the roads will also never be reduced.

On 24 September, media reports revealed that even the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) itself has been issuing fitness certificates for vehicles that emit black smoke. Many other vehicles continue to run freely in Dhaka without renewing their fitness certificates for years. The government, under pressure, is granting extra privileges to vehicle owners. The entire campaign to remove old vehicles collapsed simply because of threats of strikes from transport owners and workers.

If this continues, if the government retreats out of fear whenever a vested group issues threats, then nothing in the state can ever be fixed. Earlier, when the government tried to ban auto-rickshaws from Dhaka’s roads, it failed in the face of protests by auto-rickshaw drivers. The capital, and indeed the country, now seems ruled by the mobs of special groups. The government appears unable to act against any irregularities. Where firmness is needed, it bends at the slightest pressure. As a result, Dhaka is becoming increasingly unliveable.

We want decisions to be taken not under pressure from vested groups but with proper consideration of what benefits the majority. The removal of unfit vehicles has been discussed for years, yet the government has failed to act decisively. It is deeply unfortunate that an entire city population is being forced into an unhealthy life by the interests of a few groups. The government must understand that delay and concessions will only worsen the crisis. It is time for firm action, not words. Unfit vehicles must be taken off the roads—without compromise, without hesitation.