Dhaka ranked 23rd among cities with the worst air quality on Saturday morning (August 3, 2025), recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 79 at 9:50 am, according to the latest data.

The city`s air was classified as ‘moderate’, indicating a light health risk, particularly for sensitive individuals. According to AQI guidelines, scores between 51 and 100 are considered moderate, where people with respiratory issues may need to limit prolonged outdoor activity.

For context, Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), and Kampala (Uganda) held the top three positions on the global pollution list, with AQI scores of 162, 153, and 152 respectively — all falling in the category of ‘unhealthy’ for the general population.

The AQI serves as a tool to report daily air quality levels, helping the public understand how polluted the air is and its potential health impacts. In Bangladesh, the index considers five major pollutants: PM10, PM2.5, nitrogen dioxide (NO?), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO?), and ozone.

Dhaka’s air quality tends to worsen during winter, often reaching unhealthy or even hazardous levels, but generally improves during the monsoon season. Despite the seasonal variation, the capital has long struggled with persistent air pollution.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that air pollution causes around seven million deaths globally each year, primarily due to heart disease, stroke, respiratory illnesses, and lung cancer.