Dhaka’s air quality remained in the ‘moderate’ category on Saturday morning, according to the Air Quality Index.
With an AQI score of 80 at 9:00am, the densely populated capital ranked 20th among the world’s most polluted cities.
When the AQI value for particle pollution is between 50 and 100, air quality is considered ‘moderate’, usually sensitive individuals should consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion, between 101 and 150, air quality is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, between 150 and 200 is ‘unhealthy’, between 201 and 300 is said to be ‘very unhealthy’, while a reading of 301 and above is considered ‘hazardous’, posing serious health risks to residents.
Cities like Delhi, Lahore and Kathmandu topped the global pollution list this morning with AQI scores of 324, 205, and 172 respectively — indicating air quality ranging from ‘very unhealthy’ to ‘hazardous’.
A recent report by Unicef revealed that more than 500 million children in East Asia and the Pacific are breathing unhealthy air, with air pollution linked to the deaths of 100 children under the age of five every day.
The AQI is based on the measurement of five major pollutants— particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), and ground-level ozone (O₃).
Dhaka has long struggled with severe air pollution, especially during the winter months, though air quality tends to improve during the monsoon season.
In 2023, the annual average concentration of PM2.5 in Bangladesh was reportedly 16 times higher than the World Health Organisation’s guideline for safe air.
According to a 2019 report jointly conducted by the Department of Environment and the World Bank, the three main sources of air pollution in Dhaka are brick kilns, vehicle emissions, and dust from construction sites.
Experts have repeatedly warned that the capital is becoming increasingly uninhabitable due to unchecked pollution, with limited action being taken by the authorities.
