Air Quality Index: Dhaka ranks 5th among cities with worst air quality

This morning, the air quality in Dhaka was deemed "unhealthy for sensitive groups."

With an air quality index (AQI) score of 141 at 8:40 am, Dhaka ranked fifth on the list of cities worldwide with worst air quality, according to the AQI.

Pakistan's Karachi, India's Delhi, and Qatar's Doha held the top three spots on the list, with respective AQI scores of 168, 168, and 149.

When the AQI value for particle pollution is between 101 and 150, the air quality is deemed 'unhealthy for sensitive groups', between 150 and 200 is 'unhealthy,' between 201 and 300 is'very unhealthy,' and a reading of 301+ is deemed 'hazardous,' posing serious health risks to residents.

The AQI in Bangladesh is based on five criteria pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone.

Dhaka has long struggled with air pollution problems. Typically, its air quality declines during the winter and improves during the monsoon.

Globally, air pollution consistently ranks among the leading causes of death and disability.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people annually, primarily as a result of an increase in the incidence of stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.