United News of Bangladesh

Shedding light on pathways to clean air and blue skies in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region, National Citizen Party’s (NCP) first senior joint member secretary Dr Tasnim Jara on Tuesday emphasised that people must remain at the centre of climate and environmental action. "It’s about our children breathing freely. It’s about them living longer, healthier, more fulfilling lives. If we connect to that human story, it binds us across political lines and across borders," she said while speaking at a high-level panel discussion on the sidelines of the HKH Parliamentarians’ Meet 2025. A popular figure known for her evidence-based health videos with millions of followers, Dr Jara outlined four key steps to tackle air pollution - building a shared scientific foundation, harmonising policies, mobilising finance and keeping people at the centre. UNDP launches ‘clean air’ campaign amid deteriorating air quality She stressed the unique role of parliamentarians and said, "They are not just lawmakers. They are the bridge between science and people, between global commitments and local realities. That is why they must step forward and act.” Dr Jara underlined that clean air is not a luxury, but a right. Framing it as a political issue, she said, “If we can secure that commitment across the region, our partners will act together. The sky above belongs to all of us, and we must defend our right to clean air with urgency. We either fix this together, or we fail separately.” Four Priorities Monitoring of air quality in the region is still uneven, said Dr Jara, calling for a robust regional network of monitoring stations, shared datasets, and transparent science.  “If we cannot measure together, we cannot act together." UN Secretary General calls for enhanced global cooperation for clean air “If one country tightens standards but another does not, the consequences cross borders,” she said, urging alignment of policies across the HKH region.