Dhaka, the overcrowded capital of Bangladesh, ranked 11th among cities with the worst air quality on Tuesday morning, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 95 at 9:07 am.

The city’s air was classified as “moderate,” posing a light health risk, according to the AQI index.

Pakistan’s Lahore, Uganda’s Kampala, and Uzbekistan’s Tashkent topped the list with AQI scores of 181, 165, and 159 respectively.

An AQI score between 50 and 100 is considered “moderate,” 101–150 “unhealthy for sensitive groups,” 151–200 “unhealthy,” 201–300 “very unhealthy,” and 301+ “hazardous.”

The AQI measures five key pollutants—PM10, PM2.5, NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone—to determine overall air quality.

Dhaka has long struggled with air pollution, which usually worsens in winter and improves during the monsoon. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution causes an estimated seven million deaths worldwide annually, largely from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and respiratory infections.

MN/