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Dhaka’s air quality remained in the ‘moderate’ category on Saturday morning, with the capital ranking 26th among cities worldwide with the worst air pollution.
The city recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 73 at 9:22am, according to the latest air-quality ranking. The reading indicates that the air posed a relatively low health risk, although unusually sensitive people may need to limit prolonged outdoor exertion.
Uganda’s Kampala topped the list with an AQI score of 186, followed by Doha, Qatar, with 164, and Manama, Bahrain, with 163.
According to the AQI scale, a reading between 51 and 100 is classified as ‘moderate’. Air quality between 101 and 150 is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, while 151-200 is classified as ‘unhealthy’. Readings of 201-300 are considered ‘very unhealthy’, and levels above 300 are categorised as ‘hazardous’.
The AQI is a standard measure used to communicate how clean or polluted the air is and the potential health effects associated with different levels of pollution.
In Bangladesh, the AQI is calculated based on concentrations of five major pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), sulphur dioxide (SO₂) and ozone.
Dhaka has long struggled with severe air pollution, with air quality typically deteriorating during the dry winter months and improving during the monsoon season.
Air pollution remains a major global public health concern. The World Health Organization estimates that exposure to air pollution is associated with around seven million premature deaths worldwide each year, mainly from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.
Despite Saturday morning’s moderate reading, experts warn that Dhaka’s air quality can change rapidly depending on weather conditions, traffic emissions, construction activity and other sources of pollution.