The government has taken up a project worth Tk 506.63 crore to curb air pollution caused by black smoke from vehicles. However, the allocation of Tk 60.48 crore for consultancy services—a major portion of which comes from a World Bank loan—has drawn sharp criticism and raised objections from the Planning Commission.
Titled "Bangladesh Clean Air Project (BCAP) Phase-1: Vehicle Emission Control," the initiative will be implemented by the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA). Attempts to reach BRTA Chairman Mohammad Habibur Rahman for comments regarding the high consultancy fees and specific expenditure sectors went unanswered.
Financial Breakdown
Of the total project cost of Tk 506.63 crore, the government will provide Tk 37.17 crore, while Tk 469.46 crore will be funded through a World Bank loan. The implementation period is set from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2030.
Out of the Tk 60.48 crore set aside for consultancy services, Tk 53.86 crore will come directly from the World Bank loan. In addition, Tk 5.82 crore has been allocated for the Project Management Unit, Tk 12.75 crore for administrative costs, and Tk 2.55 crore from the loan for repair and maintenance.
Further expenditures include:
Equipment & Vehicles: Tk 1.5 crore for furniture, Tk 9 crore for five mobile fitness units, and Tk 24 crore for 20 mobile emission testing units.
Infrastructure: Tk 91 crore for procuring equipment for seven Vehicle Inspection Centers (VICs), Tk 268.74 crore for constructing seven office buildings and site preparation, and Tk 3 crore from the loan for constructing five VIC garages.
Project Scope and Objectives
The project covers Khulna, Chattogram, Rangpur, Sylhet, Mymensingh, Cumilla, and Noakhali. Mobile vehicle emission testing units will also be set up at every district circle office of BRTA in Dhaka. Additionally, 12 units will be deployed across eight offices for six metro circle courts, and eight units will be assigned to BRTA mobile courts.
The primary objective is to reduce vehicular emissions, upgrade the national vehicle inspection program through automated VICs, enforce strict emission standards, and phase out old, unsafe, and highly polluting vehicles. BRTA believes these measures will significantly reduce harmful pollutants such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter, thereby lowering pollution-related health costs.
Planning Commission Objections
The project’s approval process faced multiple hurdles. Initially proposed at Tk 446.46 crore, the Development Project Proposal (DPP) was restructured following a Project Evaluation Committee (PEC) meeting on May 13, 2025.
However, the Planning Commission issued a query on December 3, 2025, pointing out that the restructured DPP violated directives by increasing government-funded expenditures, altering consultancy allocations, and introducing new components without proper authorization. Following subsequent revisions, the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges submitted a final proposal on July 28, 2026, increasing the budget by Tk 31.37 crore to reach the current Tk 506.63 crore total.
Experts Call for Accountability
Transport experts have voiced skepticism regarding the project's impact based on past experiences. Dr. M. Shamsul Hoque, Professor of Civil Engineering at BUET and former director of the Accident Research Institute, noted:
"Similar projects were taken up in the past, but they yielded no results. Institutions must be strengthened to stop unfit vehicles on the roads. Many obtain fitness certificates without even bringing the vehicle in for inspection—this must stop. The World Bank must ensure scientific service delivery, but government intention and strict police enforcement are crucial."
Meanwhile, Prof. Abdus Salam, head of the Air Quality Research Center at Dhaka University's Chemistry Department, highlighted the severe health hazards posed by toxic air in the capital:
"Look at our buses—the situation has remained unchanged for the last 35 years. Black carbon from unfit vehicles floats in the air for more than half the year across the country. Unless we phase out old vehicles, strictly enforce emission controls, and transition to cleaner energy and electric vehicles, our air quality will not improve."
According to BRTA data, out of nearly 64 lakh registered vehicles nationwide (24 lakh in Dhaka alone), economic lifespans have expired for about 6.5 lakh vehicles. These include approximately 30,000 buses and minibuses, as well as 47,000 trucks and covered vans, which continue to operate and deteriorate air quality.