Dhaka, Bangladesh's overcrowded capital, ranked sixth globally for the worst air quality, with an AQI score of 171 at 8 am on Wednesday. 

This score indicates that the air is classified as "unhealthy," meaning pollution levels are high enough to harm certain individuals' health.

Air quality is considered moderate when the AQI is between 50 and 100, and unhealthy for sensitive groups between 101 and 150. 

Dhaka's score places it in the "unhealthy" range, while cities like Hanoi, Sarajevo, Mumbai, Delhi, and Lahore top the list.

The AQI measures pollutants such as particulate matter, NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone, with severe health risks linked to poor air quality. 

Bangladesh has faced persistent pollution, which worsens in winter and improves during monsoon rains. 

The World Health Organization reports that air pollution causes an estimated seven million deaths annually worldwide.

BDST: 1036 HRS, FEB 12, 2025
MN