The Department of Environment (DoE) has declared Savar Upazila a “Degraded Air Shed” under Rule 5 of the Air Pollution (Control) Rules, 2022. The declaration was officially issued on 17 August through a circular signed by Dr. Md. Kamruzzaman, Director General of the DoE.
Under this declaration, starting September 2025:
- All brick manufacturing activities in Savar—except those using tunnel kilns and hybrid Hoffman kilns—will be prohibited.
- Open burning of solid waste will be banned.
- No location or environmental clearances will be issued for newly established air pollution–generating industries.
- Additional measures outlined in the official action plan will be enforced.
Data from the DoE’s continuous air quality monitoring center reveals that Savar’s annual average ambient air pollution levels are nearly three times higher than the national standard. This has already caused severe public health impacts. During the dry season, for nearly five months, winds from the northwest and northeast carry Savar’s pollution into Dhaka, exposing the capital’s dense population to serious health risks.
The Ministry of Environment has emphasized that this declaration is a critical step toward reducing air pollution in both Savar and Dhaka, ensuring stronger public health protection.