Dhaka Ranks 4th Among World’s Most Polluted Cities This Morning

Dhaka ranked as the world’s fourth most polluted city on Monday morning, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 168 at 9:30am.

The city’s air quality was classified as “unhealthy”, meaning pollution levels could pose health risks to the general population, according to the AQI scale.

India’s Delhi topped the list with an AQI score of 200, followed by Pakistan’s Lahore at 199 and Karachi at 175.

An AQI reading of 101–150 is categorised as “unhealthy for sensitive groups”, while scores between 151 and 200 are considered “unhealthy”. Readings ranging from 201 to 300 indicate “very unhealthy” air quality, while scores above 300 fall into the “hazardous” category, posing serious health risks.

The AQI measures daily air pollution levels and indicates the potential health effects on residents. In Bangladesh, air quality monitoring focuses on five major pollutants: particulate matter (PM₁₀ and PM₂.₅), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), sulphur dioxide (SO₂) and ozone.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution is responsible for an estimated seven million deaths worldwide each year. The main associated health conditions include stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.