Photo: BSS

JAHANGIRNAGAR UNIVERSITY, July 15, 2026 (BSS) - A recently conducted study has found that exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution causes nearly 88,240 premature deaths annually across Bangladesh's six major cities, while inflicting an estimated economic loss of US$23 billion - equivalent to around five percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP).

The findings were unveiled today at a press conference held at the Department of Public Health and Informatics. Chairman of the department and associate professor Dr Md Shakhaoat Hossain presented the research.

The study, conducted by the department's Climate Change, Air Quality and Health Research (C2AHR) Unit under the leadership of Dr Shakhaoat Hossain, was recently published in the internationally recognised journal Pollution. Researchers analysed data from Dhaka, Chattogram, Rajshahi, Khulna, Sylhet and Barishal.

The research was carried out by a multidisciplinary team from the Climate Change, Air Quality and Health Research (C2AHR) Unit, Department of Public Health and Informatics, Jahangirnagar University, in collaboration with the Department of Environment (DoE), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, University of Hong Kong, and the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom. 

The research team comprised Dr Md Shakhaoat Hossain, Sayed Mohammad Rasel, Afsana Akter, Tarekul Islam, Md Ziau lHaque, Md Iqbal Kabir, Cui Guo, James A. Hall, Suzanne E. Bartington, and Zongbo Shi.

According to the study, PM2.5 pollution is linked to an average of about 242 deaths every day. Of the total annual premature deaths, around 37,519 were attributed to cardiovascular diseases, 8,344 to chronic respiratory diseases and 811 to lung cancer.

City-wise analysis showed that Dhaka recorded the highest number of pollution-related premature deaths at approximately 68,703, followed by Chattogram with 11,202, Rajshahi with 2,827, Khulna with 2,625, Sylhet with 1,488 and Barishal with 1,395.

The study also found that premature deaths associated with PM2.5 pollution increased steadily in all six cities between 2013 and 2021. In Dhaka alone, an average of about 3,484 additional deaths each year was linked to PM2.5 pollution during the period, indicating a worsening urban air quality situation.

Addressing the press conference, Dr Shakhaoat said air pollution should no longer be viewed merely as an environmental issue, as it has become a major public health and economic concern.

"Our findings show that air pollution is responsible for nearly 88,000 premature deaths every year and causes economic losses equivalent to around five percent of the country's GDP. Without immediate intervention, both the health and economic burden will continue to rise," he said.

He stressed the need for strict implementation of the World Health Organization (WHO) air quality guidelines, reduction of PM2.5 emissions, strengthened urban air quality management and evidence-based policymaking to significantly reduce pollution-related deaths and economic losses.