March 5, 2025
DHAKA – What you think is fog or just nice winter air is actually smog, the result of intense air pollution. Dhaka, the bustling capital of Bangladesh, now ranks among the most polluted cities on Earth — an alarming reality for its more than 20 million residents. Every breath taken in this city comes with a cost. On the Air Quality Index (AQI), Dhaka’s numbers frequently soar to dangerous levels, posing severe risks to everyone’s health, particularly those already struggling with respiratory conditions.
In 2024, Dhaka’s AQI often exceeded 400 during the dry season — levels classified as “hazardous” even for people in perfect health. To put this into perspective, it’s like spending the entire day in a room filled with cigarette smoke, with no windows or ventilation. While other parts of Bangladesh suffer from pollution to various degrees, Dhaka seems to be in the worst situation.
The sources of this pollution are as diverse as they are destructive. Vehicles burning low-quality fuel choke the streets with black exhaust. Factories on the city’s outskirts emit harmful gases, while construction sites kick up clouds of dust that never seem to settle. Construction-heavy districts like Gulshan and Uttara frequently report AQI numbers above 420, turning the air gritty enough to leave a noticeable film of dust on skin and clothes after just a short time outside.
For us, Dhaka’s polluted air isn’t just a statistic — it’s a daily, life-altering challenge. Dr Ziaul Huq, 58, a senior consultant of respiratory medicine at Evercare Hospital, has witnessed the devastating consequences firsthand. “The air quality in Bangladesh often triggers what we call acute severe asthma,” he explains. “These attacks respond slowly — or not at all — to standard treatments. They can become life-threatening, which is tragic when you realise that better air quality could have prevented many of these crises.”
One of Dr Huq’s patients, a woman in her early 40s, regularly suffers from severe asthma attacks. “It’s difficult for her to find relief, even with multiple medications,” he recounts. “She’s been hospitalised several times, and each time, it’s a struggle to stabilise her.” Sadly, her story is far from unique. Across Dhaka, countless residents find themselves in similar predicaments, relying on inhalers and hospital visits for temporary relief from the city’s toxic air.
Inhalers, while essential for managing asthma and other respiratory conditions, are not without their downsides. Many people are unaware that frequent or improper use of inhalers can lead to side effects. Common side effects of reliever inhalers (short-acting bronchodilators) include shakiness, headaches, and an increased heart rate. Overuse can reduce their effectiveness, making it harder to manage sudden asthma attacks. On the other hand, preventer inhalers (steroid-based) can cause oral thrush, a fungal infection in the mouth, and may lead to hoarseness or a sore throat if not used correctly. In fact, the use of inhalers can lead to a slow decay of teeth over time. Rinsing the mouth after each use and following the prescribed dosage can help mitigate these issues.
Sarah Hossain, a 34-year-old mother, shares her 8-year-old daughter’s heartbreaking story. “She’s grown up with asthma that barely flares up when we’re abroad,” Sarah explains. “But in Dhaka, she can hardly breathe.”
Her daughter has been hospitalised six times due to severe asthma attacks. “Masks and inhalers do little to no help. Clean air in Dhaka has become a luxury we can’t afford. I don’t allow her to play any sports or go to parks. It might seem excessive, but even staying outside for a few hours induces a horrible asthma attack that very night.”
For families like Sarah’s, leaving the city might seem like the only escape — but for most, this is simply not an option.
While asthma often has genetic roots, Dhaka’s harsh environmental conditions have led to an increase in people developing respiratory issues later in life.
Rafiq Ul Khan, a 23-year-old student of BRAC University, speaks of his constant struggle with dust allergies. “Living in Dhaka with a dust allergy is terrible,” he says. “I’m forced to choose between constant medication or suffering around the clock. Masks and keeping my house spotless only help so much; dust is everywhere. It hurts to breathe.”
These stories reveal a sobering truth: Dhaka’s air isn’t just damaging; it’s deadly. According to a report from the Department of Environment and the World Bank, air pollution in Dhaka is responsible for thousands of premature deaths each year. Long-term exposure doesn’t just lead to respiratory diseases like asthma or bronchitis but also increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and even cancer. Children and the elderly are particularly vulnerable, but no one is truly safe.
Growing up in Dhaka with asthma or any respiratory condition is like living with an invisible weight pressing down on your chest. For children, the simplest joys — running around in the park, playing cricket on the street, or walking to school — become exhausting tasks. Parents must constantly monitor their children’s activities, checking AQI levels like they would the weather and always staying alert for signs of wheezing or shortness of breath.
While inhalers are a critical tool in managing asthma, there are additional strategies that can help reduce the frequency and severity of attacks. Improving indoor air quality is one of the most effective measures. Using air purifiers with HEPA filters, sealing windows to prevent outdoor pollutants from entering, and regularly cleaning surfaces to reduce dust accumulation can significantly lessen exposure to allergens. Wearing high-quality masks, such as N95 respirators, when outdoors can also provide a protective barrier against harmful particles.
But even indoors, there’s no true escape. Dust seeps in through the smallest cracks, and the ever-present haze outside is a reminder of the air they’re forced to breathe. Medical expenses pile up, with families spending significant portions of their income on treatments, doctor visits, and medications just to manage the symptoms. As a victim of dust allergy and asthma myself, the frustration of never being healthy, always dependent on medication and masks, is something that only gets harder with time.
The psychological burden extends to parents as well. There’s a constant sense of guilt and helplessness, knowing that their children are suffering from something largely beyond their control. Many parents wrestle with difficult decisions — should they uproot their lives and move to another city or country, if that’s even an option? Should they change jobs or pull their children out of school during particularly bad pollution spells? The weight of these choices hangs over families, turning what should be life decisions into complex, emotionally charged dilemmas.
The consequences of growing up in a city like Dhaka extend beyond health. They shape identities, limit opportunities, and instill a sense of vulnerability that can last a lifetime. For some, the city is home despite its challenging place of culture, family, and memories. But for others, it’s a constant reminder of what they are missing: the simple, unburdened act of breathing freely.
References:
1. World Bank Group. (March 28, 2023). Bangladesh Needs Urgent Actions to Curb Air Pollution.
2. World Bank Group. (December 4, 2022). High Air Pollution Level is Creating Physical and Mental Health Hazards in Bangladesh: World Bank.