Dhaka has ranked seventh among 126 cities worldwide for air pollution, according to Swiss-based air quality monitoring group IQAir. Kathmandu topped the list.

At 10:30am Bangladesh time on Sunday (April 6), Dhaka’s Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 146, a level classified as “unhealthy for sensitive groups” — particularly affecting children, the elderly, and people with pre-existing health conditions.

IQAir’s live index provides real-time assessments of how clean or polluted the air is in cities around the world. According to its standards, an AQI between 101 and 150 falls into the category considered harmful for vulnerable populations.

At the same time, Kathmandu reported an AQI of 233, the highest among all cities. Delhi followed with 216, while Hanoi, Lahore, Mumbai and Shanghai occupied the next ranks.

The main pollutant in Dhaka’s air is fine particulate matter known as PM2.5. Its concentration was measured at 10.7 times above the World Health Organization's recommended limit.

BDST: 1142 HRS, APR 06, 2025
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