Dhaka to Install Air Purifiers Across the City in Fight Against Pollution

Authorities to Deploy 50 High-Capacity Air Purifiers Across Dhaka

According to Prothom Alo, the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) plans to install air purifiers in at least 50 high-traffic locations across the capital to reduce air pollution. DNCC Administrator Mohammad Azaz revealed the initiative during a policy dialogue held on Monday at the Nagar Bhaban in Gulshan, co-hosted by DNCC and the Center for Atmospheric Pollution Studies (CAPS).

According to Azaz, each device can clean and cool the air equivalent to 100 trees. “We’ve secured sponsorship for the devices and will sign agreements with relevant companies this month. The project won’t cost the city corporation any money,” he said. However, he acknowledged that the initiative is experimental and may not provide lasting results. “We want to run a pilot project and see what the outcomes are. If it doesn’t work, we’ll explore alternative innovations,” he told Prothom Alo.

Experts Call for Long-Term, Systemic Action

While acknowledging the effort as a temporary measure, air quality experts have strongly advised that air purifiers are not a sustainable solution for a city as densely populated and polluted as Dhaka. CAPS Chairman Ahmad Kamruzzaman stated that while people may experiment with air purifiers in public spaces, these devices do not solve the major air pollution challenges.

‘These devices are more akin to medical equipment in our context and cannot be promoted as a fix in a country where everyone is exposed to polluted air,’ he said.

Professor Abdus Salam, a chemistry professor at Dhaka University and an air pollution researcher, echoed this sentiment. “Even wealthier countries have failed to see significant results from installing large-scale air purifiers. Instead of investing in these short-term devices, we should focus on removing the root causes of pollution,” he said.

Experts recommend that Dhaka tackle major sources of pollution such as outdated, smoke-emitting vehicles, poorly regulated construction dust, and illegal brick kilns. DNCC administrator recently recommended that more trees be planted due to the reducing greenery in the cities..

The Technology and Its Limitations

According to DNCC sources, the city plans to install HDCT 51000 model purifiers, each capable of cleaning up to 30,000 cubic feet of air per minute. These machines can remove 90% of fine airborne particles, making them suitable for densely populated areas. Each unit weighs around 1,500 kg—about the size of a Toyota Corolla—and runs on standard 220V electricity.

Despite the impressive specifications, the effectiveness of these units is likely to remain limited. Air purifiers clean the air using filters or electrostatic technology but primarily impact only the immediate surroundings. Experts caution that this localized benefit will not address the broader, systemic issues affecting the city’s air quality.

A Look Abroad: Lessons from China and India

Dhaka’s pilot project follows similar efforts abroad, notably in Xi’an, China, which built a 330-foot air purification tower in response to severe pollution caused by coal heating systems. This Solar-assisted Large-Scale Cleaning System filters air through solar-heated greenhouses, reportedly improving air quality within a four-mile radius. China is now planning to construct even taller towers based on these results.

Image of Dhaka City, for Illustration Purposes Only

However, the experience in neighboring India offers a more sobering perspective. In 2021, Delhi installed a 24-meter-high smog tower in Connaught Place, which initially showed promise by reducing pollution by up to 80% within a 50-meter radius. But beyond 300 meters, its impact was negligible. By 2023, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee deemed the project ineffective and advised against further investments in such technology, citing high costs and minimal impact.

Dhaka’s Pollution Crisis Worsens

The urgency for effective measures cannot be overstated. According to a recent report by CAPS, Dhaka residents have enjoyed clean air on just 31 days out of the past 3,114—a span of over nine years. The rest of the days ranged from unhealthy to hazardous levels.The Global Air Quality Report 2024 ranked Bangladesh as the second most polluted country and Dhaka as the third most polluted city in the world.

Professor Salam emphasized that air pollution persists due to inaction. “Committees are formed when pollution peaks in winter, but concrete steps are rarely taken,” he said. Instead, he and other experts insist that any meaningful progress must come from addressing the actual sources of pollution—through regulation, enforcement, and environmental planning.

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