Why air pollution missing from election pledges 

Ahead of the 13th national election on February 12, the political context is currently rife with pledges. We're hearing phrases like "development," "mega projects," "growth," and "smart Bangladesh". However, a crucial query still stands: Will this advancement guarantee people's right to breathe in an atmosphere that is safe? If not, who is this development intended for? Bangladesh currently faces a terrible reality in which air pollution is silently but mercilessly killing people. Billions of people living in cities including as Dhaka, Gazipur, Narayanganj, and Chittagong breathe air that has long exceeded the stated health risk criteria. Surprisingly, air pollution remains a marginal issue in electoral politics.

So, how genuine is a state's claim to development if it cannot provide its residents with clean air? We are often asked who is responsible for air pollution? Everyone is liable, but the state and political leadership bear the brunt of the blame. For years, uncontrolled brick kilns have been running, decrepit smoke-filled automobiles wander the streets, hazardous emissions from factories fill the sky, and construction dust has turned the city gray. Laws and policies exist, but they are not being implemented. Will anyone accept political responsibility for the failure?

The 13th national election presents a crucial opportunity to accept that obligation. But the question is, do political parties truly want to take use of this chance, or will they once again exclude a "irrefutable truth" like air pollution from their manifestos? People increasingly understand that air pollution is no longer just an environmental issue; it is also a question of life and death for voters. The lungs of a rickshaw puller, a garment worker, a daily wage laborer, a schoolchild, a doctor, an engineer, and a government official are all harmed equally. However, in election campaign speeches, we rarely hear about ensuring that these individuals have access to clean air.

“However, the reality is completely the opposite. A population sick with polluted air can never be the driving force of a sustainable economy. Air pollution, with its increased health costs, loss of productivity, and premature death, is an invisible burden on the economy.”

But when the state knows that people are getting sick due to breathing polluted air, according to UNICEF, about 1.8 billion children in the world are breathing polluted air, according to a report by the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), 102,456 people die every year due to air pollution in the country, according to the Air Quality Life Index (AQLI), air pollution is reducing the average life expectancy of people in Bangladesh by 5.5 years, according to the World Bank, 4.4 percent of Bangladesh's gross domestic product (GDP) is being affected by air pollution, and yet does not take effective measures, then it is no longer administrative weakness, it becomes policy negligence. Ignoring this issue in the election manifesto means institutionalizing that negligence.

Air pollution is an "invisible tax" on the economy. Political parties often say that controlling the environment will hinder development. However, the reality is completely the opposite. A population sick with polluted air can never be the driving force of a sustainable economy. Air pollution, with its increased health costs, loss of productivity, and premature death, is an invisible burden on the economy. The burden of pollution does not fall equally on everyone; it is a question of social justice. The rich get AC, purified air, and better medical care. But there is no protection for rickshaw pullers, daily wage laborers, garment workers, and school-going children. Therefore, not controlling air pollution means imposing state discrimination on the poor and marginalized. What could be a more political issue than this in a democratic election? Again, Bangladesh has no shortage of environmental laws, policies, and court orders. There is a lack of political will. An announcement to close brick kilns comes, but all the announcements are ignored. There is talk of controlling old vehicles, but there is no visible change on the roads.

Political parties often pit development against the environment. This argument is not only wrong, but also dangerous. If political parties really want to be people-friendly, their manifestos should clearly mention some of the most urgent issues such as the passage and implementation of the "Clean Air Act", structural reforms of major sources of pollution, a timetable for phasing out old and polluting vehicles, a mandatory roadmap for modernization of brick kilns, a zero tolerance policy on industrial emissions, reducing dependence on fossil fuels, plans to increase the use of renewable energy, strict monitoring of dust control in construction, real investment in public transport and urban greening, appointment of environmental cadres and environmental police, and plans to address interstate air pollution. These promises cannot be just paper promises. The people now want to know who will take responsibility, who will answer, and who will implement them?

Voters in this 13th national election are being openly urged to speak up. Inquire about the candidates' manifestos and where they address air pollution. How will your strategy guarantee my child's lungs are safe? Five years from now, will we have better roads or larger hospital queues to wait in? Air pollution is a problem that affects your family's health, your performance, and your survival; it is not only a theoretical environmental issue. The people do not benefit from politics that disregards this fact. Voting is about apportioning responsibility, not merely granting authority.

Voting is more than just distributing power; it is also about delegating responsibilities. Vote for someone in this election who does more than just talk about growth and recognizes people's right to clean air as a state priority. Let us hold our leaders accountable for their pledges and set time restrictions. Because the government and the slogan may change, but if the air does not change, the people's plight will remain the same. The plea to the countrymen is to go to the polls on February 12 and vote for clean air not only with their ballots, but also with their questions, demands, and awareness.