Dhaka North to Set Up 50 Air Purifiers Amid Doubts

The Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has announced plans to install 50 air purifiers in various public areas to address the city’s worsening air pollution, according to its Administrator Mohammad Azaz.

Azaz stated that each purifier is capable of cleaning and cooling the air to a level comparable to around 100 trees. While acknowledging that the devices are costly, he noted that all 50 units will be sponsored, so no expense will fall on the city corporation.

He said the initiative represents a quick technological fix, but emphasized that long-term sustainable strategies are also being pursued.

However, urban planning expert Shaikh Muhammad Mehedi Ahsan expressed doubts about the effectiveness of such purifiers in a heavily polluted city like Dhaka. He recommended installing them in a few locations on a trial basis before expanding the project.

He also stressed the importance of identifying and addressing the sources of pollution through a structured plan for immediate, mid-term, and long-term action. Increasing green areas and preserving existing parks and water bodies, he said, would be more impactful than relying on air purifiers.