Also available in Bangla
Air pollution is a serious problem in Bangladesh especially in Dhaka where it is estimated to cause 15,000 premature deaths and several million cases of illness every year. As part of efforts to tackle the problem the Government of Bangladesh launched the Air Quality Management Project (AQMP) in 2000. The project has two main components; strengthening air quality monitoring and addressing vehicular emissions. Supported by the World Bank, this initiative, which was to be completed in December 2006, will now continue till December 2007, after a third one-year extension.
AQMP has provided the basic infrastructure for continuous monitoring of air quality in Dhaka and a new continuous monitoring station was set up in Chittagong in October. Three more air monitoring stations will be set up in Khulna, Rajshahi and a hotspot site in Dhaka.Â
The AQMP also contributed to the phase-out of 2-stroke three-wheelers from Dhaka, a move that led to a significant reduction in air pollution. However, the growing number of polluting commercial diesel vehicles has eroded some of these gains.
The Government recently requested the World Bank support the AQMP II initiative, which is likely to come into effect after the extended period expires in December 2007. The AQMP II initiative will focus on formulating policies and actions to address the issue of emissions from commercial diesel vehicles. It will also help put up an institutional structure within the Department of Environment to carry out its mandate on air quality management.
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Contacts:
Rezwan-ul-Alam (8802) 815-9015, Ext 4242,     E-mail: salam3@worldbank.org
for more information on the World Bank in Bangladesh, please visit:
www.worldbank.org.bd & www.worldbank.org
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