It's a timely step that the government has declared Savar upazila a "degraded air shed." This is because Savar, a township around 23 kilometers away from the Dhaka city, has been getting polluted by leaps and bounds mainly due to a large number of brick kilns operating there.
This has prompted the government to impose a ban on traditional brick kilns. From September 2025, only Tunnel kilns and Hybrid Hoffman kilns will be permitted in Savar in order to protect both flora and fauna.
Since Savar is adjacent to Dhaka city, its heavy pollution has been affecting the capital as air currents carrying pollutants directly into Dhaka, worsening the capital's already dire air quality. According to the Department of Environment, Savar and Dhamrai alone have 284 brick kilns, 67 of which are allegedly found illegal. These kilns have turned the air toxic, with annual pollutant levels nearly three times higher than the national standard.
This is why in November 2020, the High Court ordered actions against illegal kilns in five districts, including Dhaka and Narayanganj. Since then, more than 700 illegal kilns have been shut down. Yet, despite these efforts, the problem looms large.
A World Bank survey in 2023 identified brick kilns as a major contributor to Dhaka's air pollution, responsible for 13 percent of harmful emissions. Meanwhile, our environment department estimates that brick kilns in Dhaka and surrounding areas account for as much as 58 percent of the city's pollution.
The reasons for city's high pollution are clear. Most brick kilns rely on outdated technology, burning firewood or low-grade coal, often sourced through deforestation. As a result, there have been huge toxic emissions-laden with carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide. This has caused respiratory illnesses, particularly among children. Moreover, fertile agricultural soil is dug up to make bricks, stripping farmland of productivity.
So, the government's move at Savar under the Air Pollution (Control) Rules, 2022, is a crucial step forward. By banning all forms of open waste burning, new polluting industries and restricting kiln operations to cleaner technologies, the government gives a clear signal to the polluters.
But enforcement of these strict measures remains to be seen. This is because previous crackdowns on illegal brick kilns had often faltered due to corruption, political influence and weak monitoring. Unless illegal kilns are dismantled and owners held accountable, this declaration risks becoming yet another hollow promise.
On the other hand, alternatives to clay bricks should be actively promoted. Concrete blocks, fly ash bricks and other eco-friendly materials are already in use worldwide and could reduce dependence on fertile soil for brick production.
Savar's degraded air is a grim warning for us. If the current measures are enforced with determination, they could mark a turning point in the fight against air pollution. We hope that these steps will become resounding success.
