Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, has been ranked 13th among 123 cities worldwide for poor air quality, with Kathmandu, Nepal, claiming the top spot.

At 10 am Bangladesh time on Wednesday (April 2), Dhaka's Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 119, categorized as ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’—including children, the elderly, and individuals with health conditions.

The ranking comes from IQAir, a Switzerland-based organization that tracks global air pollution levels. Its AQI scale classifies air quality from ‘good’ (0-50) to ‘hazardous’ (301+), offering real-time insights into urban air pollution.

At the time of reporting, Delhi, India, recorded the highest pollution level globally, with an AQI of 334. Kathmandu followed with 268, while Baghdad, Iraq, ranked third.

Dhaka’s air pollution is largely driven by high concentrations of PM2.5—fine particulate matter that poses severe health risks. At 10 a.m., PM2.5 levels in the city were 8.6 times higher than the World Health Organization (WHO) standard, underscoring ongoing air quality concerns.

BDST: 1038 HRS, APR 02, 2025
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