Bangladesh, along with dozens of other nations, has been plunged into an environmental and public health blind spot following the abrupt suspension of the U.S.-run AirNow international air quality monitoring programme on March 4, 2025. This sudden termination-driven by funding constraints-has left the country without access to real-time, regulatory-grade data on particulate matter, particularly PM2.5, which poses significant risks to human health.
AirNow was not just another data provider; it was a cornerstone for informed environmental policymaking, public awareness, and health advisories. The absence of this vital information now threatens to obscure the true scale of air pollution in urban centres like Dhaka-already among the most polluted cities in the world. Without credible, transparent data, air quality issues risk fading from public discourse and policy priority, despite their direct impact on the well-being of millions.
The real-world benefits of AirNow's monitoring capabilities were tangible. Studies show that availability of reliable data helped reduce PM2.5 levels by measurable margins, resulting in fewer premature deaths and substantial economic gains. For Bangladesh, where respiratory illnesses and pollution-related health costs are already overwhelming, the loss of such a low-cost, high-impact tool is particularly damaging.
Though low-cost sensors are proliferating, experts caution that these cannot replace regulatory-grade monitors. The latter provide the level of precision and reliability needed for evidence-based decision-making and long-term environmental planning. Relying on inferior alternatives risks underestimating pollution levels and misguiding mitigation efforts.
This crisis is not just technical; it is political and moral. Clean air is a basic right, enshrined in national constitutions and international declarations. The removal of a trusted data source compromises that right by disabling the public's ability to know whether the air they breathe is safe. It also cripples the government's capacity to enforce environmental standards or respond to emergencies like smog episodes and industrial accidents.
The path forward must involve urgent investment in national-grade monitoring infrastructure. While international partners and multilateral donors should assist, the primary responsibility lies with national authorities. It is essential to establish a publicly accessible, transparent, and scientifically credible system that ensures consistent air quality surveillance.
Bangladesh cannot afford to remain in the dark. As climate change accelerates and urbanisation intensifies, the health costs of inaction will rise sharply. Restoring air quality monitoring is not just about technology-it is about safeguarding lives, enabling accountability, and preparing for a cleaner, healthier future.
The monitoring void left by AirNow must be treated as a wake-up call. It is time for Bangladesh to build its own resilience in environmental governance-and that begins with reclaiming the right to know what we're breathing.
