Dhaka has once again found itself among the world’s most polluted cities, ranking fifth on Tuesday morning with an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 159 at 8:59am, according to IQAir.

The capital’s air was classified as “unhealthy for sensitive groups”, posing potential health risks for children, the elderly, and people with respiratory conditions.

Pakistan’s Lahore, India’s Delhi and Kolkata, and Qatar’s Doha topped the list with AQI scores of 221, 194, 187, and 162, respectively.

According to the AQI scale, scores between 50–100 indicate “moderate” air quality, 101–150 is “unhealthy for sensitive groups”, 151–200 is “unhealthy”, 201–300 is “very unhealthy”, and anything above 301 is deemed “hazardous”.

The AQI measures daily air quality based on five pollutants — PM2.5, PM10, NO₂, CO, SO₂, and ozone — to assess pollution levels and potential health impacts.

Dhaka has long struggled with severe air pollution, particularly during the winter months, while conditions typically improve during the monsoon season.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution causes around seven million deaths worldwide every year, mostly linked to heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, and respiratory infections.

MN/