Dhaka, the overcrowded capital city of Bangladesh, has ranked fifth on the list of cities with the worst air quality with an AQI score of 179 at 8: 23am this morning (April 13, 2025).
The capital's air was classified as ‘unhealthy’, according to the AQI index.
An AQI score between 50 and 100 is considered ‘moderate’, usually prompting sensitive individuals to limit prolonged outdoor exertion. A score between 101 and 150 is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, 150 to 200 is ‘unhealthy’, 201 to 300 is ‘very unhealthy’, and a reading of 301 or more is considered ‘hazardous’, posing serious health risks to residents.
The top three positions were occupied by China’s Guangzhou, Chongqing and Shenzhen with AQI scores of 296, 195, and 187 respectively.
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In Bangladesh, the AQI is determined based on five major pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO₂, CO, SO₂ and ozone.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution is responsible for an estimated seven million premature deaths each year worldwide, primarily due to stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.