The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change today (Oct 6) asked the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) to remove buses and minibuses over 20 years old, and trucks and covered vans over 25 years old, from the roads to combat air pollution.

The authorities in a letter asked the BRTA to make emission testing mandatory when issuing fitness certificates for old diesel-powered buses and trucks in Dhaka, read a press release on Sunday.

Under the leadership of the ministry’s adviser, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, several initiatives have been undertaken to curb environmental pollution.

As part of these efforts, the BRTA has been requested to take steps to remove vehicles that have exceeded their economic life and to ensure mandatory emission testing for old diesel vehicles during their fitness checks, read the release.

In line with the decisions made in the first and second meetings of the National Committee on Air Pollution Control, the BRTA will take appropriate measures over the issues, it added.

BDST: 1936 HRS, OCT 05, 2024
MSK/SMS