Dhaka Ranks Fifth Among World’s Most Polluted Cities on Tuesday

Dhaka ranked fifth among the world’s most polluted cities on Tuesday, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 165, indicating unhealthy air quality.

Dust, smoke and harmful airborne particles continue to affect daily life, while climate change and ongoing development activities contribute to air pollution in cities worldwide.

According to the air quality index published by IQAir, a Switzerland-based air quality monitoring organisation, Lahore in Pakistan topped the list with a score of 444, classified as hazardous.

India’s capital, New Delhi, ranked second with an AQI score of 202, followed by Kolkata in third place with 192. Dubai ranked fourth with a score of 173, while Dhaka recorded 165.

Under the AQI classification system cited in the report, scores between zero and 50 indicate good air quality, while readings from 51 to 100 are considered moderate.

An AQI score of 101–150 is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups, while readings between 151 and 200 indicate unhealthy air. Scores of 201–300 are classified as very unhealthy, and readings above 300 are considered hazardous.

In Bangladesh, the AQI is calculated using five categories of pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and ozone (O3).

A 2019 report by the Department of Environment and the World Bank identified brick kilns, vehicle emissions and construction-site dust as three major sources of air pollution in Dhaka.

The World Health Organization says air pollution increases the risk of stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections. It is associated with an estimated seven million deaths worldwide each year.