Khwaja Masum Bellah Kausarey: A healthy nation, a strong economy, and a secure future all depend on a clean, sustainable, and healthy environment. Unfortunately, Bangladesh today finds itself in the grip of an environmental crisis. Air, water, sound, and soil—none are safe anymore. Pollution is disrupting the country’s natural balance, endangering public health, biodiversity, and even our national development plans. Amid global climate change and rapid urbanization, Bangladesh has become a “hotspot of environmental disaster.” Dhaka regularly ranks among the cities with the most polluted air in the world. Rivers have turned toxic, noise pollution has become a normalized urban curse, and poisonous chemicals are infiltrating our farmlands. In such a dire reality, the responsibility to build a cleaner environment lies with the state, society, and each individual. Neglecting this responsibility is equivalent to pushing future generations toward destruction.

According to the latest statistics -every year, 7 million people die due to air pollution-related causes. (WHO). By 2040, marine plastic pollution is expected to triple. (UNEP). Over 2 billion people use contaminated water, causing 485,000 deaths annually. (WHO, 2022). 33% of the Earth`s land is already affected by soil pollution. (FAO, 2021). In Europe, noise pollution causes 12,000 deaths and 48,000 cases of heart disease each year.

According to a World Bank report from 2019, approximately 80,000 people die annually in Bangladesh due to air pollution-related diseases. In 2023, the international monitoring agency IQAir reported that Dhaka consistently ranks among the top five most polluted cities globally. The key causes of this pollution include unregulated brick kilns, emissions from old vehicles, dust from roads, unchecked construction work, and industrial waste. The situation worsens during winter when stagnant air traps pollutants. The fine particulate matter known as PM2.5 enters the lungs and causes cancer, respiratory illnesses, and heart disease.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 9 out of 10 people worldwide breathe polluted air, resulting in approximately 7 million premature deaths every year. UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) reports that plastic pollution in oceans is expected to triple by 2040 if no action is taken. Water pollution affects over 2 billion people globally, with contaminated drinking water contributing to 485,000 diarrheal deaths annually (WHO, 2022). Soil degradation, caused by industrial waste and overuse of chemicals, threatens over 33% of the Earth’s land surface, directly impacting food security (FAO, 2021). Noise pollution, declared a public health issue by the European Environment Agency, contributes to 48,000 cases of heart disease and 12,000 premature deaths each year in Europe alone. Although Bangladesh is a riverine country, these rivers have now turned into toxic drains. Major rivers such as Buriganga, Turag, Balu, Shitalakkhya, and Karnaphuli are flooded with industrial and human waste. The oxygen level in these rivers is so low that aquatic life is vanishing.

From tanneries and textile mills to chemical factories and slaughterhouses, untreated waste is being dumped directly into the rivers. The water has turned black, foul-smelling, and dangerous. Thousands of people living near Dhaka use this polluted water daily, leading to a rise in waterborne diseases such as typhoid, hepatitis, skin infections, and digestive disorders.

Rural areas are also not spared.Arsenic-contaminated groundwater and the overuse of pesticides in agriculture are similarly posing serious health risks. Noise pollution is an ‘invisible tormentor.’ In Dhaka, the average noise level often reaches 90–110 decibels, while the safe limit is 65 decibels. Despite laws designating schools, hospitals, mosques, and courts as “silent zones,” honking and loud sounds remain rampant in these areas.

Experts warn that noise pollution leads to sleep disorders, hypertension, developmental issues in children, and even long-term hearing loss. Yet, awareness and enforcement remain sorely lacking.

Soil pollution is another major crisis. Excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, rampant plastic waste, and electronic waste disposal are contaminating agricultural lands. Studies show that toxic heavy metals like lead, mercury, and cadmium are now present in crop fields, eventually entering the human body and harming organs such as the liver, kidneys, and nervous system.

These contaminated crops are affecting child growth and mental development. In this way, our future generation is being deprived of the basic right to toxin-free food.

Bangladesh has several environmental laws, including the Environment Conservation Act of 1995. Yet enforcement remains weak due to administrative negligence, political interference, and corruption. Although courts have ordered thousands of illegal brick kilns to shut down, many continue operating. Thousands of factories operate without environmental clearance. The Department of Environment is understaffed and lacks the technical capacity to monitor effectively. Moreover, public awareness of environmental issues remains worryingly low. Environmental Ethics in Islam: As a majority- Muslim country, Bangladeshis respect religious teachings deeply. Therefore, promoting environmental protection through Islamic values could be highly effective. The Qur`an clearly warns:

 

“Do not cause corruption on the earth.” – (Surah Ar-Rum: 41)

“Allah does not like corruption and destruction.” – (Surah Al-Baqarah: 205)

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: Whoever plants a tree, every fruit or bird that benefits from it is a charity on his behalf. (Sahih Muslim)

These alarming figures underline the critical need for collective global and local action to build a cleaner, safer, and healthier environment—before irreversible damage is done. The environment is not just a natural resource—it is the lifeline of our existence and our legacy for the next generation. If we do not act now, all hopes of sustainable development, foreign investment, and economic growth will be crushed under the burden of ecological collapse. No one wants to live in a poisonous, unstable, and decaying country. The time has come for a nationwide environmental movement—led by citizens, the government, religious leaders, teachers, farmers, and businesspeople alike.

Author: The Executive Director of a Nongovernment Research & Development Organization, Journalist, and Human Rights Activist.