Online Report : Dhaka ranked 49th among cities with the worst air quality on Saturday morning (July 27, 2025), recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 58 at 10 am.
According to the AQI scale, this places the city in the `moderate` category, indicating a light health risk, particularly for sensitive individuals.
Air quality in the capital has remained at this moderate level for several days, offering some relief compared to more hazardous conditions seen in previous months. When AQI values range from 50 to 100, the air is considered acceptable for most people, though those with respiratory conditions are advised to limit extended outdoor exertion.
Cities topping the list for worst air quality were Manama (Bahrain) with an AQI of 178, Jakarta (Indonesia) at 172, and Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of the Congo) at 167—all falling under the `unhealthy` category.
Bangladesh’s AQI is calculated based on concentrations of five key pollutants: PM10, PM2.5, nitrogen dioxide (NO?), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO?), and ozone.
Dhaka, which has long struggled with air pollution, typically experiences its worst air quality in the winter months, with conditions improving during the monsoon due to rainfall.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution contributes to around seven million deaths globally each year, primarily from stroke, heart disease, chronic respiratory illnesses, lung cancer, and infections.