Once the World’s Cleanest, Rajshahi Now Suffocates Under Dust and Pollution

Just a few years ago, a morning walk along the Padma River in Rajshahi was a breath of calm and freshness. In 2016, Swiss-based environmental monitoring organisation IQAir even ranked Rajshahi as the world’s cleanest city in terms of air quality. But only nine years later, that same city now tops the list of the world’s most polluted urban centres. Once celebrated for its clear skies, Rajshahi has turned into a city where breathing itself has become hazardous. According to data from October 21, Rajshahi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) reached 167, categorised as unhealthy by international standards. On the same...

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Just a few years ago, a morning walk along the Padma River in Rajshahi was a breath of calm and freshness. In 2016, Swiss-based environmental monitoring organisation IQAir even ranked Rajshahi as the world’s cleanest city in terms of air quality.

But only nine years later, that same city now tops the list of the world’s most polluted urban centres. Once celebrated for its clear skies, Rajshahi has turned into a city where breathing itself has become hazardous.

According to data from October 21, Rajshahi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) reached 167, categorised as unhealthy by international standards. On the same day, Khulna recorded 157 and Dhaka 102 — meaning Rajshahi’s air was worse than even the capital’s.

Dust Everywhere — From Markets to Flyovers

From Bhadra to Saheb Bazar, and from Shiroil to Sonadighi, the entire city is blanketed in dust. Sand, bricks, and gravel from ongoing flyover and building construction lie scattered across open spaces. Old buses, trucks, and autorickshaws emit thick black smoke, adding to the air’s toxicity. These pollutants include PM2.5 particles, which are small enough to penetrate the lungs and cause serious respiratory problems.

Experts Blame Construction and Vehicle Emissions

Environmental scientists say that despite the absence of large industries, construction work and vehicle emissions have become the main sources of pollution. Sand is stored openly on roadsides without proper water spraying systems, allowing dust to spread uncontrollably across neighbourhoods.

Local resident Jannat Ara from Boherampur shared her frustration:

“If I open my windows in the morning or evening, dust fills the house. My son has been coughing for weeks. The doctor says it’s due to air pollution. Even keeping the windows shut doesn’t help anymore.”

Public Health Concerns Rising

Public health expert Dr. Shankar K. Roy warned that such pollution levels are “unimaginable for a city like Rajshahi.” He noted that children and the elderly are at greatest risk, adding that asthma, respiratory infections, and even heart disease will rise sharply if immediate action is not taken.

Weak Enforcement and Lack of Equipment

Although the Road Transport Act allows authorities to penalise vehicles emitting black smoke, enforcement remains minimal.
Nur-e-Alam Siddique, Deputy Commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Traffic Police, admitted that occasional actions are taken against buses and trucks but not motorcycles, saying, “Motorbike emissions fall under BRTA’s responsibility.”

A BRTA official, requesting anonymity, revealed, “We don’t have smoke-testing equipment. Fitness certificates are issued based on visual inspection. Such devices aren’t available outside Dhaka either.”

City Corporation Promises Action

Following reports of worsening air quality, the Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) recently held an emergency meeting to discuss dust control measures at construction sites and roads.
Mahmud-ul-Hasan, RCC’s environmental officer, said, “It’s truly alarming. Several flyover projects are ongoing, and we’ve instructed engineers to use water spraying to reduce dust. Conditions should improve once construction is completed.”

However, residents fear that if the work takes another year, they will be forced to “live with masks and inhalers” until then.

From Pride to Pollution

Environmental activist Tafazzal Hossain lamented, “In 2016, Rajshahi was the pride of Bangladesh for its clean air. Now, people here receive pollution alerts instead. Without changes in urban planning, vehicle control, and construction management, Rajshahi will lose its livability.”

Locals echo his concern — the once serene city now echoes with coughing children and masked pedestrians under a haze of dust. Without swift and effective measures, Rajshahi’s pure air may soon exist only in memory.