Dhaka's Air Quality Hits 'Unhealthy' Mark, Ranks Fifth Worst Globally

Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, is grappling with severe air pollution, ranking fifth on the global list of cities with the worst air quality with an AQI (Air Quality Index) score of 168 as of Sunday morning.

This reading classifies the city's air as 'unhealthy', a designation for AQI values between 150 and 200, according to the official index. While the report initially noted the classification as 'unhealthy for sensitive groups' (101-150 range), the score of 168 places it firmly in the 'unhealthy' category, posing a general health threat.

Dhaka's struggle with poor air quality is a perennial issue, typically worsening in the winter months before improving during the monsoon season. Globally, air pollution is a major killer, contributing to an estimated seven million deaths annually from conditions like stroke, heart disease, and respiratory illnesses, per the World Health Organization (WHO).

The AQI in Bangladesh is based on five key pollutants: particulate matter ($PM10$ and $PM2.5$), $NO2$, $CO$, $SO2$, and ozone.