City dwellers' advised to keep windows closed, keep mask on

The residents of the capital city Dhaka have been advised to keep windows closed and wearing protective masks when going outdoors as the city ranked as world's most polluted city, according to the Air Quality Index (AQI).

According to the air quality monitoring organization AQI, as of 8:36 AM on Sunday, Dhaka's AQI score stood at 374, categorizing the city's air as "hazardous" and posing a severe health risk to residents.  

In its advisory, IQAir has urged Dhaka residents to take precautions, including wearing protective masks when going outdoors, avoiding exercise in open spaces, and keeping windows closed to minimize exposure to polluted air.  

According to IQAir's standards, an AQI score: 0�50 is considered good, 51�100 is moderate, 101�150 is unhealthy for sensitive groups, 151�200 is unhealthy, 201�300 is very unhealthy, and 301+ is categorized as hazardous.  

Following Dhaka, Yangon, Myanmar, ranked second on the list with an AQI score of 216, while Delhi, India, was third with a score of 208�both cities classified as having "very unhealthy" air quality. Krasnoyarsk, Russia secured the fourth position with a score of 193, and Tehran, Iran, ranked fifth with a score of 175.  

Among Dhaka's most polluted areas, Eastern Housing-2 recorded a shocking AQI score of 641, followed by Hemayetpur, Savar (451), and Shansta Forum (441).  

The extreme air pollution levels in Dhaka continue to raise serious public health concerns, urging immediate action to mitigate its impact on the city's residents.