Dear Sir
I am writing to highlight the severe impact of air pollution on children in Bangladesh and globally, as revealed in the 2024 State of Global Air report by the Health Effects Institute and UNICEF. The report emphasizes that over 40% of deaths among children under five in countries like Bangladesh are due to lower-respiratory-tract infections linked to air pollution. In 2021 alone, Bangladesh recorded over 19,000 such deaths among young children.
Children are especially vulnerable, suffering from ailments such as asthma and pneumonia as a result of inhaling pollutants during critical developmental stages. The report underscores that globally, air pollution caused over 700,000 deaths of children under five in 2021, making it the second-leading risk factor for death in this age group after malnutrition.
Bangladesh faces a pivotal challenge in addressing air quality to protect its younger generations. Global collaboration and urgent intervention are essential to tackle this pressing health crisis and ensure a healthier future for all.
Adnan Anan Sikder
Student,Dept. of CSE, East West University