DHAKA, Sept 16, 2018 (BSS) – Bangladesh should act strongly to tackle environmental degradation and pollution, especially in its cities, to secure higher growth for upper-middle income status, says a World Bank (WB) report.
“Bangladesh loses about $6.5 billion, which is about 3.4 percent of 2015 Gross Domestic Product (GDP), due to pollution and environmental degradation in urban areas,” said the report released at a ceremony here today.
Revealing that pollution reached an alarming level in 2015, the report said: “it caused about 80,000 deaths in cities, and across Bangladesh, 28 percent of all deaths are from diseases caused by pollution, compared to a 16 percent global average.”
The report titled “Enhancing Opportunities for Clean and Resilient Growth in Urban Bangladesh: Country Environmental Analysis 2018” focused on three areas: cost of environmental degradation, clean and resilient cities, and institutions for clean industrial growth.
It said Bangladesh required effective policies, a sound legal framework, and stronger institutions at the national and local levels. Besides, the country also needed to scale up green financing, promote clean technologies, improve hazardous waste management, and raise awareness for environmental protection, added the report.
Speaking on the occasion as chief guest, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Anisul Islam Mahmud said over the last decade, Bangladesh has improved its policy and legal framework, and has taken concrete steps to save the environment.
“We have introduced clean technologies in brick kilns and other polluting industries and have set up Continuous Air Quality Monitoring Stations in major cities,” said the minister terming this report as cautionary message for Bangladesh.
World Bank Practice Manager of Environment and Natural Resources Global Practice Kseniya Lvovsky said: “We have seen an environmental management success story in Madhabdi, a small town, that short-term investment in town planning, a clear vision, and strong-willed local leadership can turn the tide of unplanned urbanization and pollution.”
The report said pollution and environmental degradation, including wetland encroachment and unregulated disposal of hazardous wastes, especially harm women, children and the poor.
“Nearly one million people in Bangladesh, mostly poor, are at risk of lead contamination,” it said, adding, “it can lead to IQ loss and neurological damage, especially for children, and can increase the risk of miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.”
Mentioning that unplanned urbanization and industrialization are affecting both big and small cities, the report said: In the last 40 years, Dhaka lost about 75 percent of its wetlands. “Due to filling of wetland and now, with high-rise buildings built on sand-filled areas, parts of the city are more susceptible to flood inundation.”
“Bangladesh pays a high price from environment degradation and pollution in its urban areas, and this puts its strong growth at risk,” said World Bank Acting Country Director for Bangladesh Rajashree Paralkar.
He opined: “The country must act to put in place the right policies and institutions for green growth and to ensure its industries adopt clean technologies.”
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Secretary Abdullah Al Mohsin Chowdhury and Director General of Department of Environment Dr Sultan Ahmed also spoke on the occasion.