According to real-time data from Swiss air quality monitoring organization IQAir, Dhaka recorded the highest Air Quality Index (AQI) level globally, with PM2.5 concentration measured at a staggering 28.6 times higher than the World Health Organization’s annual recommended limit.
Closely trailing Dhaka, India’s Kolkata ranked second with an AQI score of 180, while Delhi followed at third with a score of 167. Both cities also fall under the “unhealthy” category, which spans AQI values between 151 and 200. Air becomes “very unhealthy” when AQI levels range from 201 to 300, posing serious health risks, especially to sensitive groups. The AQI, or Air Quality Index, is a daily indicator used worldwide to measure how clean or polluted the air is in urban areas. A score below 50 is considered good, while anything beyond 150 is deemed hazardous for the general public. With a rating well above 150, Dhaka’s air was labeled as “unhealthy,” and experts warned of heightened risks for respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
Historically, Dhaka has struggled with air pollution, particularly during the winter months when dust, vehicle emissions, and industrial pollutants worsen air quality. The situation typically sees slight improvement during the monsoon season, but not enough to significantly alter the city’s overall air pollution profile. In response to the growing crisis, a senior government adviser in Bangladesh confirmed that the government plans to form a dedicated task force aimed at curbing pollution and enforcing environmental regulations more stringently.
With major South Asian cities now consistently ranking among the worst globally for air quality, environmental experts have renewed calls for urgent cross-border cooperation and robust policy changes to protect public health and promote cleaner urban development.
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Dhaka Tops Global Air Pollution Index
