Dhaka ranks 2nd among cities with worst air quality

Dhaka, the overcrowded capital of Bangladesh, has ranked second on the list of cities with the worst air quality, recording an AQI score of 266 at 9:45 am on Monday (December 8, 2025).

Today, Dhaka’s air was classified as ‘very unhealthy,’ signaling an alarming threat to public health, according to the AQI index. Such poor air quality has persisted over the past few days, underscoring the urgent need for action.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) classifies particle pollution levels as follows: a value between 50 and 100 is considered ‘moderate,’ with sensitive individuals advised to limit prolonged outdoor activity; 101–150 is ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’; 151–200 is ‘unhealthy’; 201–300 is ‘very unhealthy’; and a reading above 301 is deemed ‘hazardous,’ posing serious health risks to residents.

Pakistan’s Lahore, India’s Delhi, and Egypt’s Cairo occupied the first, third, and fourth spots on the list, with AQI scores of 408, 261, and 259, respectively.

The AQI, which reports daily air quality, informs the public about how clean or polluted the air is in a particular city and highlights potential health risks. In Bangladesh, AQI is measured based on five key pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and ozone.

Dhaka has long struggled with air pollution. Air quality typically worsens during the winter months and improves during the monsoon season.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution is responsible for an estimated seven million deaths worldwide each year, primarily due to stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.

Source: UNB