Dhaka ranked seventh among the world’s most polluted cities on Thursday morning, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 157 at 9:20am.
The city’s air quality was classified as “unhealthy”, indicating that pollution levels could pose health risks to the general population.
Lahore in Pakistan topped the list with an AQI score of 294, followed by Delhi in India at 235 and Jakarta in Indonesia at 174.
Under the AQI scale, readings of 101–150 are considered “unhealthy for sensitive groups”, while scores of 151–200 indicate “unhealthy” air. Readings of 201–300 are classified as “very unhealthy”, and scores above 300 are considered “hazardous”.
The AQI provides daily updates on air pollution levels and indicates the potential health effects of exposure.
In Bangladesh, air quality is assessed based on five major pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), sulphur dioxide (SO₂) and ozone.
Dhaka has long faced persistent air pollution, with air quality typically deteriorating during winter and improving during the monsoon season.
The World Health Organization estimates that air pollution causes around seven million deaths worldwide each year, primarily from conditions such as stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.