Dhaka, the overcrowded capital of Bangladesh, ranked third among the world’s most polluted cities on Wednesday morning, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 234 at 9:40 a.m., according to IQAir. The reading falls in the “very unhealthy” category, signaling severe health risks for residents.
The city’s air quality has remained at alarming levels for several consecutive days, heightening public health concerns. Prolonged exposure to such air can aggravate respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, health experts warn.
According to the AQI scale, a value between 201 and 300 is classified as very unhealthy, indicating that everyone may experience adverse health effects. Readings above 300 are considered hazardous.
Neighboring cities fared even worse: Delhi topped the global list with an AQI of 761, followed by Lahore at 364 and Kolkata in fourth place at 232.
Bangladesh’s AQI is calculated based on five key pollutants — PM2.5, PM10, nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), and ozone (O₃).
Dhaka’s air quality typically deteriorates during the dry winter months and improves during the monsoon season, when rainfall helps clear airborne pollutants.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution causes an estimated seven million premature deaths worldwide each year, primarily from stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, and respiratory infections.
Source: UNB
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
