Dhaka, the overcrowded capital of Bangladesh, recorded the third worst air quality among major cities worldwide on Sunday morning (January 18, 2026), once again highlighting the city’s persistent struggle with pollution.
According to the air quality and pollution city ranking, Dhaka registered an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 275 at 10:10am, placing it third on the list of cities with the most polluted air. The city’s air was classified as ‘unhealthy’.
India’s capital Delhi topped the list with an AQI score of 605, while Pakistan’s Lahore secured the second position with an AQI of 297, both indicating extremely poor air conditions.
The AQI is used globally to report daily air quality levels and to indicate how polluted the air is, along with the potential health effects on residents. When AQI values for particle pollution fall between 101 and 150, air quality is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’.
Read More: Dhaka’s air quality remains ‘unhealthy’ amid fog
A reading between 150 and 200 is categorised as ‘unhealthy’, while levels ranging from 201 to 300 are deemed ‘very unhealthy’. An AQI reading above 301 is considered ‘hazardous’, posing serious health risks.
In Bangladesh, the AQI is calculated based on five key pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulphur dioxide (SO2), and ozone.
Dhaka has long been grappling with severe air pollution, a problem that worsens during the winter months due to increased emissions and unfavourable weather conditions.
The situation typically improves during the monsoon season, when rainfall helps to reduce airborne pollutants.
Despite seasonal relief, air pollution remains a major public health concern for the city’s residents, particularly children, the elderly and those with existing respiratory conditions, as Dhaka continues to rank among the most polluted cities in the world.
Read more: Adviser Rizwana calls for effective regional action to combat trans-boundary air pollution