Air pollution emerged as a severe public health and economic crisis in Bangladesh. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution is responsible for approximately 88,240 premature deaths annually — or an average of 242 deaths per day — across the country’s six major cities, according to a recent study by the Department of Public Health and Informatics at Jahangirnagar University (JU). This pollution is also inflicting an estimated economic loss of $23 billion per year, which is equivalent to roughly 5 percent of Bangladesh’s total GDP.
These concerning findings were shared at a press conference held this afternoon at the Department of Public Health and Informatics by the department’s chairman and associate professor, Dr Md Shakhaoat Hossain.
The research, conducted under his supervision, analysed the health and economic impacts of air pollution in Dhaka, Chattogram, Rajshahi, Khulna, Sylhet and Barisal. The study was recently published in the internationally recognised journal Pollution.
The study found that, in these six cities alone, air pollution from PM2.5 caused an estimated 88,240 premature deaths annually, or approximately 260 deaths per 100,000 people. This means that, on average, nearly 242 people lost their lives daily due to air pollution.
Air pollution in these six cities also resulted in an annual economic loss of approximately $23 billion, or about BDT 2.8 trillion, which is equivalent to nearly 5 percent of Bangladesh’s total GDP.
The study further revealed that of the total annual premature deaths, 37,519 were attributed to heart disease, 8,344 to chronic respiratory diseases and 811 to lung cancer.
The city-wise analysis revealed that Dhaka is the most severely affected, with approximately 68,703 deaths related to PM2.5 pollution annually. Other cities followed with significantly lower numbers compared to Dhaka, though still alarming numbers: Chattogram (11,202 deaths), Rajshahi (2,827 deaths), Khulna (2,625 deaths), Sylhet (1,488 deaths) and Barisal (1,395 deaths).
The research also found that between 2013 and 2021, the number of premature deaths due to air pollution consistently increased across these six cities. The most alarming picture was seen in Dhaka, where the number of premature deaths linked to PM2.5 increased by approximately 3,484 each year. These results indicate a rapidly deteriorating air pollution situation in urban areas and highlight the urgent need for effective control measures, according to the researchers.
Dr Md Shakhaoat Hossain, head of the research team, said, “We often view air pollution merely as an environmental issue. But our research shows that it’s causing nearly 88,000 premature deaths annually and an economic loss equivalent to 5 percent of the GDP. Our research findings are a warning to policymakers. If effective initiatives aren’t taken now to control air pollution, the health and economic losses will continue to grow in the future.”
“If the World Health Organization’s (WHO) air quality guidelines are strictly implemented, it would be possible to avoid the aforementioned premature deaths and economic losses. Adopting effective and evidence-based policies to control air pollution, reducing PM2.5 emissions from various sources, strengthening integrated air quality management in urban areas, and taking rapid and coordinated steps to protect public health can play an effective role in this regard,” he added.