Dhaka's air quality was classified as ‘moderate’ on Friday morning, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 86 recorded at 9:45 am.
The Bangladeshi capital ranked 23rd among cities with the worst air pollution globally at that time.
Top positions on the global list were occupied by Lahore (Pakistan) with an AQI of 179, Kampala (Uganda) at 170, and Denver (USA) with 153 — all indicating significantly worse air conditions.
An AQI score between 50 and 100 is considered ‘moderate’, where air quality is generally acceptable, though sensitive individuals are advised to limit prolonged outdoor activity. Higher ranges indicate increasing health risks: 101–150 is ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, 151–200 is ‘unhealthy’, 201–300 is ‘very unhealthy’, and anything over 301 is considered ‘hazardous’.
Bangladesh’s AQI system measures five key pollutants: particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), sulphur dioxide (SO₂), and ozone (O₃).
Dhaka has long struggled with air pollution, especially during the dry winter months. The city’s air quality typically improves during the monsoon due to increased rainfall.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution causes an estimated seven million premature deaths worldwide each year, largely due to diseases such as stroke, heart disease, chronic respiratory illnesses, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.
SR
