Dhaka's air quality has turned "good" due to the incessant rain triggered by Cyclone Remal. With an air quality index (AQI) score of 38 at 9 am this morning (May 28, 2024), Dhaka anked 77th on the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality. When the AQI score is between 0 and 50, air quality is considered to be ‘good’, while between 50 and 100 is ‘moderate’, between 101 and 150 ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, between 151 and 200 is ‘unhealthy’, between 201 and 300 is said to be 'very unhealthy', while a reading of 301+ is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents.  India's Delhi, Indonesia's Jakarta and Pakistan's Lahore occupied the first three spots on the list, with AQI scores of 216, 173 and 162, respectively.  Dhaka’s air quality turns ‘moderate’ under influence of Cyclone Remal AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, is used by government agencies to inform people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is, and what associated health effects might be a concern for them.  In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants -- Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone.  Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.   With the advent of winter, the city’s air quality starts deteriorating sharply due to the massive discharge of pollutant particles from construction work, rundown roads, brick kilns and other sources. Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide. Breathing polluted air has long been recognised as increasing a person’s chances of developing a heart disease, chronic respiratory diseases, lung infections and cancer, according to several studies. As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections. Read more: Cyclone Remal: Great Danger Signal No. 10 issued for Mongla, Payra; 9 for Ctg and Cox’s Bazar

The low-lying areas of the northern districts including Rangpur, Kurigram, and Nilphamari have been inundated due to the incessant rainfall for the last couple of days, causing immense sufferings to the residents. In Nilphamari, the low-lying areas of 14 villages in Dimla upazila of the district have been inundated due to the rainfall over the past five days till Sunday. The villages include Char Bagir Char, Chatu Nama, Madhya Chandna, Rauta Bazar, Hater Bazar, Boro Bari, Char Jhunagachha, Boro chatna, Tepakhari Bari, Maddhya Khari Bari and other areas. Abdul Awal, an officer of the local weather observatory center, said they have recorded 304 mm of rainfall in the past five days till 6 am on Sunday. Meanwhile, Bangladesh Meteorological Department has recorded 179 mm of rainfall in Syedpur upazila of Nilphamari district in the past 24 hours till 6 am on Sunday, the highest rainfall of this season. How to be Safe During and After Heavy Rains In Rangpur, the low-lying areas of Rangpur district have been inundated due to the torrential rainfall for the last several days, causing untold suffering to the people. Mostafizur Rahman, an officer of Rangpur Weather Observatory Centre, said the Met office has recorded 831 mm of rainfall in Rangpur division in the past 24 hours till 9 am on Sunday, the season’s highest rainfall in Rangpur division. During this period, the met office has recorded 179 mm of rainfall in Syedpur of Nilphamari district, highest rainfall in this season. Besides, they also recorded 108 mm of rainfall in Rangpur district, he said. Rain may continue for two more days, he added. Rains likely to continue  till September 25 The low-lying areas including Kamal Kasna, Mahiganj, Botla, New Jummapur, East Jummapara, Tajhat, Babupara, Kamarpara, Adrashapara, Nagar Mirganj, Shalban, Mistripara, Kalabari Darshana Modern intersection, Munshipara, Hanumantala, Mulatola, Medical Para in Rangpur district town have been submerged by the rain water. In Kurigram, people, especially the daily wage earners have been facing difficulties due to the torrential rainfall for the last couple of days. The normal life of people was disrupted badly due to the rain. Subol Chandra Roy, an officer of Kurigram Rajarhat Weather Observatory Centre, the Met office has recorded 59 mm of rainfall in the past 24 hours till 3 pm while light to moderate rains will likely occur in the next 24 hours in the district. The rains will continue for two more days, he said. Nur Islam, a resident of Kadamtala village said “It has been raining since morning and I have no work. If it continues, then the normal life of people will be paralyzed.” Anarul Kabir, a resident of Bhogdanga village, said already the Aman paddy crops have been damaged in last season and now the farmers sowed the seed of Aman again in this season. If the rains continue, Aman crops will be damaged again, he said. More rains likely to drench Bangladesh Besides, Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has predicted that there may be more rain across the country, including in Dhaka, over 72 hours starting from 9 am today. “Light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty wind are likely to occur at most places in Rangpur, Rajshahi and Mymensingh divisions, and at a few places in Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions with moderately heavy to very heavy falls in places over Rangpur, Rajshahi and Mymensingh divisions,” said the Met Office bulletin. Highest rainfall in the country, 179 mm, was recorded in Nilphamari’s Saidpur in 24 hours till 6 am Sunday.    

Around 1.25 lakh people were stranded as Brahmaputra and Ghaghat rivers continued to swell, worsening the overall flood situation of Gaibandha on Tuesday.

Water level of the Surma River was 3 centimeters above the danger level at Shologhar point on Friday afternoon due to incessant rain for the previous few hours.

Incessant rain and water from upstream have pushed up the water level of Jamuna River, sparking fears of flood in Sirajganj.