Dhaka has been ranked as the city with the worst air quality, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 251 at 8:21 AM on Tuesday, placing it in the “very unhealthy” category.

Following Dhaka on the list are Baghdad (248), Bishkek (222), and Kinshasa (220), which secured the second, third, and fourth positions respectively.

The AQI system categorizes air quality as "moderate" (50-100), "unhealthy for sensitive groups" (101-150), "unhealthy" (151-200), "very unhealthy" (201-300), and "hazardous" (301+), with serious health risks at higher readings.

Dhaka has been struggling with air pollution, especially in winter, and the air quality usually improves during the monsoon season. Bangladesh’s AQI is based on pollutants like particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone.

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that air pollution contributes to an estimated seven million global deaths annually, with major risks for respiratory and heart diseases.

BDST: 1139 HRS, FEB 04, 2025
MN