For a long time, the residents of the capital have been living under extreme health risks due to air pollution. Stepping outside means inhaling highly unsafe air, exposing Dhaka’s people to serious health hazards. The number of respiratory patients in the city’s hospitals is increasing daily, with the toxic air being the primary culprit.
Due to high population density and emissions from vehicles and industries, Dhaka continues to rank among the world's most polluted cities every day—today is no exception.
According to data from the international air quality monitoring organization IQAir at 9 AM on Thursday (February 20), Dhaka remains at the top of the list of cities with the worst air quality, just as it has for the past three days. The latest recorded Air Quality Index (AQI) score for the city stands at 219, categorizing its air as “very unhealthy.”
Meanwhile, other South Asian countries are faring much better in terms of air quality today. Delhi, India—often among the most polluted cities—is ranked fifth, with an AQI score of 160. Nepal’s Kathmandu follows in seventh place with a score of 157. No other South Asian cities are in the top ten most polluted cities today. In fact, apart from Dhaka, no city worldwide has recorded an AQI score above 200 today.
The AQI scale categorizes air quality as follows:
0-50: Good
51-100: Moderate
101-150: Unhealthy for sensitive groups
151-200: Unhealthy
201-300: Very unhealthy (at this level, children, the elderly, and sick individuals are advised to stay indoors, while others should limit outdoor activities).
301-400: Hazardous (posing severe health risks to urban residents).
In Bangladesh, AQI is determined based on five key pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), and ozone (O₃).
PM2.5 consists of fine airborne particles that pose serious health risks, including fatal diseases like cancer and heart conditions. NO₂ pollution mainly originates from aging vehicles, power plants, industrial facilities, residential cooking, heat waves, and fuel combustion.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution is responsible for approximately 7 million deaths worldwide every year.
