Dhaka, the overcrowded capital of Bangladesh, ranked 45th among the world’s cities with the worst air quality on Tuesday morning, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 60 at 9:34 am.

The city’s air was classified as “moderate,” posing a light health threat, according to the AQI index.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Kinshasa, Indonesia’s Jakarta, and Pakistan’s Lahore occupied the first, second, and third spots with AQI scores of 153, 151, and 118 respectively.

According to the AQI scale, a score between 50 and 100 indicates “moderate” air quality, meaning sensitive individuals should consider limiting prolonged outdoor activities. Levels between 101–150 are “unhealthy for sensitive groups,” 151–200 are “unhealthy,” 201–300 are “very unhealthy,” and 301+ is “hazardous,” posing serious health risks.

The AQI is calculated based on five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), and ozone.

Dhaka has long been grappling with severe air pollution, which typically worsens in winter and improves during the monsoon.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that air pollution causes around seven million deaths globally every year, primarily from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.

MN/