Dhaka, the overcrowded capital of Bangladesh, ranked ninth on the global list of cities with the worst air quality, recording an AQI score of 160 at 9:50 AM on Sunday. 

The air was classified as “unhealthy,” posing significant health risks to residents, according to the Air Quality Index (AQI).

On Saturday, Dhaka’s air quality worsened to a hazardous level, with an AQI score of 221, marking it as one of the most polluted cities in the world that day.

The AQI scale ranges from “moderate” (50-100) to “hazardous” (301+), with scores between 101 and 150 categorized as “unhealthy for sensitive groups” and between 151-200 as “unhealthy.”

Cities like Lahore, Delhi, and Hanoi topped the list with AQI scores of 284, 189, and 187, respectively.

Dhaka, which faces severe air pollution, typically experiences worse air quality during winter and sees improvements during the monsoon season. 

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution causes an estimated seven million deaths annually, primarily due to diseases like stroke, heart disease, and lung cancer.

BDST: 1103 HRS, MAR 23, 2025
MN