A traveler arrives in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and is struck by the massive pollution in the city. He notes that Bangladesh is considered the most polluted country in the world, with over 100,000 people dying each year from air pollution. He explores the city, showing the vast amounts of garbage in the streets and rivers, and explains that the water is contaminated with arsenic, which is slowly killing millions of people. Despite the dire situation, the traveler is touched by the friendliness and hospitality of the Bangladeshi people. He also highlights the issue of child exploitation in the textile industry and notes that many families live in poverty, scavenging for recyclables in the city's dumps. The traveler reflects on the impact of pollution on his own health and encourages viewers to think about the chemicals and toxins they are exposed to in their daily lives.
Here are the key facts from the text:
1. The narrator is traveling to Bangladesh with Clavero.
2. Bangladesh has a reputation for being difficult to enter due to its situation.
3. The narrator and Clavero do not have a visa for Bangladesh, but plan to obtain one at the airport.
4. Sometimes, visas are denied to foreigners for no apparent reason.
5. Bangladesh is considered one of the most polluted countries in the world.
6. The country has a high population density, with over 150 million inhabitants.
7. Bangladesh was part of Pakistan until 1971.
8. The capital city, Dhaka, has a large river that is heavily polluted.
9. The river is filled with garbage, including plastic and dead animals.
10. The air in Dhaka is highly polluted, causing respiratory problems and cancer.
11. Over 100,000 people die each year from air pollution in Bangladesh.
12. The water in Bangladesh is contaminated with arsenic, which is harmful to humans.
13. NGOs created water wells in the 1960s to combat cholera and increase rice production, but many of these wells contained polluted water with arsenic.
14. Over 20% of deaths in Bangladesh are caused by arsenic poisoning.
15. More than 80 million people in Bangladesh are contaminated with arsenic and slowly dying from it.
16. Child exploitation is a significant problem in Bangladesh, particularly in the textile industry.
17. Many families in Bangladesh live by rescuing items from dumps and selling them.
18. The narrator and Clavero spent a week in Bangladesh and experienced physical symptoms from pollution, including headaches and itchy throats.