Speakers tell Bela public hearingStrict enforcement of laws and better coordination among ministries are essential to deal with air pollution in the capital, said speakers at a public hearing yesterday. The hearing, titled "Measures to Prevent Air Pollution", was organised by the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (Bela) at the Shailaprapat Auditorium in Dhaka. A report by the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (2025) found air pollution causes 102,456 deaths annually in Bangladesh, along with 9,485 premature births and 696,389 underweight babies. Department of Environment Director Ziaul Haque admitted the government has failed to prevent air pollution despite having three laws and eight regulations. "Due to a lack of coordination among ministries, it is not possible to prevent air pollution," he said.