United News of Bangladesh

Dhaka, the densely populated capital of Bangladesh, ranked first among the world’s most polluted cities on Wednesday morning, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 315 at 08:53 am. Today, the city’s air was classified as ‘Hazardous’, indicating a severe health risks, according to the AQI report. Lahore in Pakistan, Kolkata in India and Beijing in China occupied the second, third, and fourth spots on the list, with AQI scores of 237, 197, and 183 respectively. Batam in Indonesia recorded the world’s cleanest air, with an AQI score of 0. According to the AQI scale, a reading between 50 and 100 is considered ‘moderate’, with generally acceptable air quality, though sensitive individuals should limit prolonged outdoor exertion. AQI levels of 101–150 are ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, 151–200 is ‘unhealthy’, 201–300 is ‘very unhealthy’, and readings above 301 are considered ‘hazardous’, posing severe health risks. Dhaka tops global pollution chart with ‘very unhealthy’ AQI of 240 The AQI, which reports daily air quality, informs residents how clean or polluted the air is and highlights potential health effects. In Bangladesh, the AQI is calculated based on five key pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and ozone. Dhaka has long struggled with air pollution. Air quality usually deteriorates in winter and improves during the monsoon season. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that air pollution causes about seven million deaths worldwide each year, primarily from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.

Dhaka, the densely populated capital of Bangladesh, ranked first among the world’s most polluted cities on Wednesday morning, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 277 at 8:18 am. Today, the city’s air was classified as ‘very unhealthy’, indicating a serious health threat, according to the AQI report. Delhi in India, Lahore in Pakistan, and Karachi in Pakistan occupied the second, third and fourth spots on the list, with AQI scores of 241, 241, and 141 respectively. According to the AQI scale, a reading between 50 and 100 is considered ‘moderate’, with generally acceptable air quality, though sensitive individuals should limit prolonged outdoor exertion. AQI levels of 101–150 are ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, 151–200 is ‘unhealthy’, 201–300 is ‘very unhealthy’, and readings above 301 are considered ‘hazardous’, posing severe health risks. The AQI, which reports daily air quality, informs residents how clean or polluted the air is and highlights potential health effects. In Bangladesh, the AQI is calculated based on five key pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and ozone. Dhaka has long struggled with air pollution. Air quality usually deteriorates in winter and improves during the monsoon season. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that air pollution causes about seven million deaths worldwide each year, primarily from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.

A powerful winter storm swept across New York City and much of the northeastern United States on Monday, trapping millions indoors under blizzard warnings and strict travel bans, while forcing the cancellation of thousands of flights. Heavy snow fell at a rate of 2 to 3 inches per hour from New York to Massachusetts early Monday, with several areas accumulating more than a foot since Sunday. Strong wind gusts topping 30 mph created whiteout conditions and dangerously low visibility. Read More: Driving across the frozen Baltic: Estonia opens seasonal ice road Air travel faced massive disruption, with more than 5,000 flights canceled nationwide on Monday, according to flight tracking service FlightAware. The bulk of the cancellations occurred at major airports in New York, New Jersey and Boston, stranding travelers and halting operations across key hubs. Blizzard warnings were in effect from Maryland to Maine. Authorities in New York City issued emergency alerts banning non-essential road travel through noon Monday due to hazardous conditions. Similar restrictions were enforced in Rhode Island and New Jersey. Long Island MacArthur Airport recorded 22.5 inches of snow, while parts of New York City saw up to 16 inches. Freehold, New Jersey, reported 22 inches, and communities in Connecticut and Rhode Island received up to 17 inches.

Dhaka, the densely populated capital of Bangladesh, ranked second among the world’s most polluted cities on Saturday morning, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 223 at 10:25 am. Today, the city’s air was classified as ‘very unhealthy’, indicating a serious health threat, according to the AQI report. Kabul in Afghanistan, Lahore in Pakistan, and Kolakata in India occupied the first, third, and fourth spots on the list, with AQI scores of 343, 221, and 215 respectively. According to the AQI scale, a reading between 50 and 100 is considered ‘moderate’, with generally acceptable air quality, though sensitive individuals should limit prolonged outdoor exertion. AQI levels of 101–150 are ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, 151–200 is ‘unhealthy’, 201–300 is ‘very unhealthy’, and readings above 301 are considered ‘hazardous’, posing severe health risks. Dhaka ranks second among world’s most polluted cities The AQI, which reports daily air quality, informs residents how clean or polluted the air is and highlights potential health effects. In Bangladesh, the AQI is calculated based on five key pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and ozone. Dhaka has long struggled with air pollution. Air quality usually deteriorates in winter and improves during the monsoon season. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that air pollution causes about seven million deaths worldwide each year, primarily from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.

Dhaka, the densely populated capital of Bangladesh, ranked second among the world’s most polluted cities on Friday morning, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 299 at 08:45 am. Today, the city’s air was classified as ‘very unhealthy’, indicating a serious health threat, according to the AQI report. Lahore in Pakistan, Delhi in India, and Kolakata in India occupied the first, third, and fourth spots on the list, with AQI scores of 320, 208, and 192 respectively. Dhaka records AQI 222, ranks third in world pollution index According to the AQI scale, a reading between 50 and 100 is considered ‘moderate’, with generally acceptable air quality, though sensitive individuals should limit prolonged outdoor exertion. AQI levels of 101–150 are ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, 151–200 is ‘unhealthy’, 201–300 is ‘very unhealthy’, and readings above 301 are considered ‘hazardous’, posing severe health risks. The AQI, which reports daily air quality, informs residents how clean or polluted the air is and highlights potential health effects. In Bangladesh, the AQI is calculated based on five key pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and ozone. Dhaka has long struggled with air pollution. Air quality usually deteriorates in winter and improves during the monsoon season. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that air pollution causes about seven million deaths worldwide each year, primarily from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.

Dhaka, the densely populated capital of Bangladesh, ranked second among the world’s most polluted cities on Wednesday morning, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 282 at 8:18 am. Today, the city’s air was classified as ‘very unhealthy’, indicating a serious health threat, according to the AQI report. Delhi in India, Kolkata in India and Karachi in Pakistan occupied the first, third, and fourth spots on the list, with AQI scores of 326, 193, and 176 respectively. According to the AQI scale, a reading between 50 and 100 is considered ‘moderate’, with generally acceptable air quality, though sensitive individuals should limit prolonged outdoor exertion. AQI levels of 101–150 are ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, 151–200 is ‘unhealthy’, 201–300 is ‘very unhealthy’, and readings above 301 are considered ‘hazardous’, posing severe health risks. Dhaka ranks second globally for air pollution with AQI at 288 The AQI, which reports daily air quality, informs residents how clean or polluted the air is and highlights potential health effects. In Bangladesh, the AQI is calculated based on five key pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and ozone. Dhaka has long struggled with air pollution. Air quality usually deteriorates in winter and improves during the monsoon season. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that air pollution causes about seven million deaths worldwide each year, primarily from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.

A mild tremor shook Sylhet and its adjacent areas on Tuesday. According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), the tremor was recorded at 5:32 pm with a magnitude of 4.0 on the Richter scale. The epicentre of the earthquake was Gowainghat upazila of Sylhet division, 214 km North-East from BMD Seismic Centre, Agargaon, Dhaka, according to BMD. Another earthquake jolts Bangladesh

As floodwaters repeatedly inundate homes in the haor basin and drought tightens its grip on the high Barind survival for millions in rural Bangladesh has become an annual test of endurance. Climate change has turned once-predictable seasons into cycles of uncertainty—washing away crops in one region while parching fields in another. Against this backdrop, the government has approved a Tk 1,268.80 crore Climate Resilient and Livelihood Enhancement Project (CRALEP), aiming to reduce poverty and strengthen climate resilience among vulnerable communities living in flood-prone haor and drought-prone high Barind areas. The project, to be implemented from January 2026 to December 2030, will be executed by the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) under the Local Government Division. It will cover 33 upazilas in eight districts in Mymensingh, Dhaka, Chattogram, Sylhet and Rajshahi divisions. The project is jointly funded by the government, international lenders and development partners. Idle machines, rising waters: A losing battle to protect Noluar Haor Of the total project cost, Tk 305 crore will come from the government, Tk 854 crore as a loan from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and Tk 109.80 crore as a grant from Denmark’s development agency, DANIDA. Officials involved in the project say CRALEP aligns with national development plans and climate strategies, placing particular emphasis on resilient infrastructure, food security and livelihood diversification at a time when climate-induced disasters are becoming more frequent and severe. The project seeks to address poverty not as an isolated economic issue, but as a consequence of repeated climate shocks. In the haor areas, early floods often destroy standing boro crops, while in the Barind tract, prolonged dry spells undermine agricultural productivity and household incomes. To improve connectivity and market access, CRALEP will construct or upgrade 334 kilometres of rural roads—141 kilometres in haor regions and 193 kilometres in Barind areas. Another 58 rural markets will be developed or rehabilitated, alongside the construction of 34 ghats to support water-based transport in flood-prone zones. The project also places strong emphasis on livelihoods. Vocational training will be provided to 40,000 youths, while 20,150 youths will receive entrepreneurship training to encourage self-employment. Besides, nearly 3,000 members of Labour Contracting Societies will receive sustainable livelihood support. Recognising the acute vulnerability of haor settlements during monsoon floods, the project includes the provision of internal village services in 320 haor villages. These include walkways, toilet blocks and tube-wells, along with the construction of 72 kilas—raised platforms used for temporary crop storage and shelter during floods. Further interventions include the construction of 72 kilometres of internal walkways, installation of 480 toilets and 720 tube-wells in haor regions, and ecosystem-based village protection measures in 280 haor villages as part of nature-based solutions to disaster risk. Illegal topsoil extraction threatens ‘Gaillar Haor’, croplands in Sunamganj A senior Planning Commission official said the project would make a meaningful contribution to safeguarding development gains in some of the country’s most climate-exposed regions. “Once implemented, the project will help reduce poverty, enhance climate resilience and address disaster-related challenges in flood-prone haor and drought-prone high Barind areas,” the official said, adding that it would also promote diversified and sustainable livelihoods and improve overall community wellbeing. Bangladesh, one of the world’s fastest-growing developing economies, remains among the countries most exposed to climate change. Recurrent flooding, erratic rainfall and rising temperatures continue to threaten rural livelihoods and infrastructure.

Dhaka, the densely populated capital of Bangladesh, ranked fourth among the world’s most polluted cities on Friday morning, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 204 at 09:08 am. Today, the city’s air was classified as ‘very unhealthy’, indicating a serious health threat, according to the AQI report. Lahore in Pakistan, Hanoi in Vietnam, and Cairo in Egypt occupied the first, second, and third spots on the list, with AQI scores of 362, 289, and 210 respectively. According to the AQI scale, a reading between 50 and 100 is considered ‘moderate’, with generally acceptable air quality, though sensitive individuals should limit prolonged outdoor exertion. AQI levels of 101–150 are ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, 151–200 is ‘unhealthy’, 201–300 is ‘very unhealthy’, and readings above 301 are considered ‘hazardous’, posing severe health risks. Unhealthy air puts Dhaka third on global pollution list The AQI, which reports daily air quality, informs residents how clean or polluted the air is and highlights potential health effects. In Bangladesh, the AQI is calculated based on five key pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and ozone. Dhaka has long struggled with air pollution. Air quality usually deteriorates in winter and improves during the monsoon season. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that air pollution causes about seven million deaths worldwide each year, primarily from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.

Dhaka, the densely populated capital of Bangladesh, ranked second among the world’s most polluted cities on Monday morning, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 262 at 9:02 am. Today, the city’s air was classified as ‘very unhealthy’, indicating a serious health threat, according to the AQI report. Kinshasa in Congo, Ulaanbaatar in Mogolia, and Cairo in Egypt occupied the first, third, and third spots on the list, with AQI scores of310, 262, and 265 respectively. According to the AQI scale, a reading between 50 and 100 is considered ‘moderate’, with generally acceptable air quality, though sensitive individuals should limit prolonged outdoor exertion. AQI levels of 101–150 are ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, 151–200 is ‘unhealthy’, 201–300 is ‘very unhealthy’, and readings above 301 are considered ‘hazardous’, posing severe health risks. The AQI, which reports daily air quality, informs residents how clean or polluted the air is and highlights potential health effects. In Bangladesh, the AQI is calculated based on five key pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and ozone. Dhaka's air quality remains ‘very unhealthy’ Dhaka has long struggled with air pollution. Air quality usually deteriorates in winter and improves during the monsoon season. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that air pollution causes about seven million deaths worldwide each year, primarily from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.