Rabiul, 40, a former garment worker and now homeless, tries to learn alphabets on the pavement near the Curzon Hall of Dhaka University. Some DU students often help him to write. He said he cannot work anymore due to illness. The photo was taken recently. Photo: Amran Hossain

Thick smoke billows from factories at the Shyampur industrial area in Old Dhaka, causing sufferings to locals, particularly the elderly and children. The High Court on Tuesday ordered the government to set up an air quality alert system to warn people about unhealthy pollution levels. Dhaka persistently ranks high on the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality, coming in at number four yesterday morning. PHOTO: AMRAN HOSSAIN

It is a recurring sight. Pedestrians and motorcyclists disregarding approaching trains. They often put their lives and those of others around them in danger as their need to hurry along outweighs their concern for safety. The photos were taken recently from the Moghbazar level crossing in the capital. Photos: Palash Khan and Prabir Das

It is a recurring sight. Pedestrians and motorcyclists disregarding approaching trains. They often put their lives and those of others around them in danger as their need to hurry along outweighs their concern for safety. The photos were taken recently from the Moghbazar level crossing in the capital. Photos: Palash Khan and Prabir Das