Dhaka Faces Severe Air Pollution

DHAKA, BANGLADESH - APRIL 9: Rows of brick kilns line the riverbank, continuously emitting black smoke from their chimneys on April 9, 2025 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Bangladesh is experiencing a speedy urbanization that generates massive demand for bricks, one of the key materials to build concrete structures. To meet this growing need, the number of brick-making fields has been increasing. One million bricks are produced using about 240 tons of coal. It reads that about 23,300 tons of particulate matter, 1.8 million tons of carbon dioxide, 302,000 tons of carbon monoxide and other highly hazardous compounds are released from brick kilns annually in the Dhaka region alone. (Footage by Palash Khan/Getty Images)