Stop plying of old diesel-run vehicles to improve air quality

They also urged the government to stop plying of all old diesel-run vehicles which are responsible for emitting sulfur, nitrogen, lead and carbon monoxide in the air.

The workshop on 'Policy options for mitigating diesel vehicle pollution' was organised by the Department of Environment under its Air Quality Management Project (AOMP) at the National Institute of Local Government auditorium at Agargaon in the city.

The speakers said current policy permits import of four-year-old vehicles and five-year-old engines, but dishonest traders are violating the laws and importing more old vehicles and engines by tampering seals and documents.

They said the government should ban the plying of trucks older than 25 years and buses older than 20 years for maintaining emission standards.

"All vehicles and engines are being imported as these are not produced in the country, and many foreign countries including India produces low standard vehicles and engines only to export to developing countries like Bangladesh," said Dr M Khaliquzzaman, senior consultant of the World Bank (WB) in Dhaka.

"The government has taken some measures especially the phasing out of two-stroke three-wheelers in Dhaka from January 2003 and setting up of standards for lubricants to improve the air quality," said Jafar Ahmed Chowdhury, secretary for environment and forest ministry.

"Around 40,000 buses have been converted into CNG for reducing the air pollution," he pointed out.

Creating awareness among the stakeholders can play an effective role in controlling the air pollution, he added.

Chaired by Khan M Ibrahim Hossain, director general of environment department, the workshop was also addressed by WB Environmental Specialist Sameer Akbar, Bangladesh Road and Transport Authority Chairman Dr M A Momen and BRTA Director Engineer Bari.