Dhaka, the overcrowded capital city of Bangladesh, has ranked 28th on the list of cities with the worst air quality with an AQI score of 90 at 10:37am this morning. Today’s air was classified as 'moderate', according to the AQI index. Nepal’s Kathmandu, India’s Delhi, Vietnam’s Hanoi and Pakistan’s Lahore occupied the first, second, third and fourth spots in the list, with AQI scores of 225, 182, 178 and 173, respectively. Dhaka’s air quality ‘unhealthy’ this morning When the AQI value for particle pollution is between 50 and 100, air quality is considered ‘moderate’, usually sensitive individuals should consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion, between 101 and 150, air quality is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, between 150 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. The AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, informs people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is and what associated health effects might be a concern for them. The AQI in Bangladesh is based on five 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. As per World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, mainly due to increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.    

Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan on Thursday emphasised the need for effective regional actions to address transboundary air pollution.  "About 30-35% of Bangladesh’s air pollution originates from neighbouring countries. Therefore, solving this issue requires moving beyond political discussions to practical measures and regional cooperation," she said while virtually addressing the World Bank’s South Asia side event at the World Health Organization’s (WHO) second global conference in Cartagena, Colombia.  Referring to the Kathmandu Roadmap and other agreements among South Asian nations, the adviser noted that while these are important steps, they are insufficient. Stronger initiatives are needed to tackle air pollution effectively, she stressed.  She mentioned that Bangladesh has finalised its Air Quality Control Regulations, aligning them with the WHO’s interim targets. These legal provisions set specific standards for polluting sectors and establish a framework for controlling both internal and external air pollution.  "The implementation of the National Air Quality Management Plan, finalised in 2024, was delayed due to political instability. However, it is now being executed effectively, aiming to reduce pollution-related risks and increase the number of clean air days to safeguard public health," she added.  The adviser further said that Bangladesh’s Clean Air Project, supported by the World Bank, is in its final stages and will be implemented soon, pending government approval. The project focuses on strengthening regulatory frameworks, enforcing environmental laws, expanding pollution monitoring systems in industries, and modernising the public transport sector.  She also announced plans to designate areas around Dhaka as "brick kiln-free zones," where the establishment of brick kilns will be prohibited. Rizwana calls for national consensus for essential reforms Besides, starting in May, old buses will be gradually phased out under a joint initiative by the Ministry of Environment and the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA).  To combat dust pollution—one of the major contributors to poor air quality—initiatives such as urban greening along open roads in Dhaka and hiring more workers for street cleaning are being planned, she said. The adviser highlighted that the demolition of illegal brick kilns has already led to some improvement in air quality, but sustained progress requires strict monitoring and modernisation of polluting sectors.  Rizwana Hasan pointed out that air pollution causes thousands of deaths in Bangladesh every year, with people in heavily polluted cities like Dhaka losing an estimated 5-7 years of their average lifespan.  Adviser Rizwana calls for urgent reform in waste management "This crisis affects all of us—our children, parents, and future generations. The cost of inaction is too high. We must act now," she said.  Expressing optimism, she said, "I am hopeful because I believe a solution is possible. We have the technology and alternatives at our disposal; what we need is commitment and implementation. Air pollution is not just an environmental issue—it is a humanitarian crisis."  The conference was attended by ministerial representatives from South Asian countries, policymakers in the environment and energy sectors, representatives from international and development organisations, researchers, local administrators, transport and industrial experts, and members of civil society.

Dhaka air was classified as “Unhealthy” on Tuesday morning. The city has ranked sisth on the list of cities with the worst air quality with an AQI score of 166 at 9: 46 am, according to the air quality index. India’s Delhi, Pakistan’s Lahore and United Arab Emirates’ Dubai occupied the first, second, and third spots on the list, with AQI scores of 187, 179 and 174’ respectively. Dhaka’s air quality ‘unhealthy’ this morning When the AQI value for particle pollution is between 50 and 100, air quality is considered ‘moderate’, usually sensitive individuals should consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion, between 101 and 150, air quality is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, between 150 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. The AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, informs people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is and what associated health effects might be a concern for them. The AQI in Bangladesh is based on five 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. Dhaka’s air quality ‘unhealthy’ this morning As per World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, mainly due to increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.

Dhaka has ranked the 15th on the list of cities with the worst air quality with an AQI score of 128 at 8:27 am on Sunday morning. The air was classified as “unhealthy for sensitive groups”, referring to a health risk to residents, according to the AQI index. Dhaka’s air quality ‘unhealthy’ this morning Thailand’s Chiang Mai, Qatar’s Doha and Azerbaijan’s Baku occupied the first, second, and third spots on the list, respectively with AQI scores of 171, 162 and 160, respectively. When the AQI value for particle pollution is between 50 and 100, air quality is considered ‘moderate’, usually sensitive individuals should consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion, between 101 and 150, air quality is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, between 150 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. The AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, informs people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is and what associated health effects might be a concern for them. The AQI in Bangladesh is based on five 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. Dhaka’s air quality ‘unhealthy’ this morning As per World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, mainly due to increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.

Dhaka, the densely populated capital of Bangladesh, ranked tenth among the cities with the worst air quality, with an AQI score of 163 at 9:15am on Monday morning. The air was classified as 'unhealthy’, referring to a health threat to residents, according to the AQI index. When the AQI value for particle pollution is between 50 and 100, air quality is considered ‘moderate’, usually sensitive individuals should consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion, between 101 and 150, air quality is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, between 150 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. Adviser Rizwana urges students to join in reducing noise, plastic pollution Mongolia’s Ulaanbaatar, India’s Delhi, and Sarajevo of Bosnia Herzegovina occupied first, second and third spots on the list, with AQI scores of 223, 214 and 204, respectively. The AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, informs people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is and what associated health effects might be a concern for them. The AQI in Bangladesh is based on five 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. How Green Industries Can Reduce River Water Pollution in Dhaka City As per World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, mainly due to increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.  

Carbon emissions, primarily in the form of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄), contribute to global warming, climate change,  and sea-level rising which in turn increase the frequency and intensity of natural phenomena, and disasters like cyclones, floods, wildfire, drought, heatwave, etc. Reduction of carbon emissions has multifarious environmental, economic, social, and health benefits. Carbon trading is both a benefit and a mechanism for reducing carbon emissions. Here’s how it works and why it can be beneficial.  What is Carbon Trading Carbon trading, also known as carbon emissions trading, is a market-based approach to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It allows countries, companies, or organizations to buy and sell permits that represent the right to emit a certain amount of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases. By putting a price on carbon emissions, it incentivizes participants to lower their emissions and invest in cleaner technologies. Carbon emissions trading operates under a cap-and-trade system where governments or organizations set a limit (cap) on total emissions. Companies receive or buy carbon credits, which allow them to emit a certain amount of CO₂. If a company emits less than its allowance, it can sell its excess credits to others. If a company exceeds its limit, it must buy more credits or face penalties. Carbon trading is a benefit of reducing emissions because it creates financial incentives for businesses to go green. However, it works best when proper regulations and transparency ensure that actual emission reductions occur. Read more: Plastic Pollution: Harmful effects on human health and environment What Is the Process of Carbon Credit Sale? The process of selling carbon credits involves several steps, from generating the credits to finding buyers and completing the transaction. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown: Carbon Credit Generation A company or project must first reduce or remove greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through activities like reforestation, renewable energy projects, or carbon capture. The emission reduction must be measured, verified, and certified by an independent third party. Verification & Certification The project must be validated by recognized carbon standards such as: Verified Carbon Standard (VCS), Gold Standard, Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), Climate Action Reserve (CAR), etc. These standards ensure that each credit represents one metric ton of CO₂ reduced or removed. Registration on a Carbon Registry Verified carbon credits are registered on platforms like: Verra, American Carbon Registry (ACR), Gold Standard Registry, etc. Each credit receives a unique serial number to prevent double counting. Read more: How Can One Person Reduce Environmental Pollution? Finding Buyers There are two main types of carbon markets: Compliance or Regulated Markets are created by government regulations to limit carbon emissions. Companies must buy carbon credits if they exceed their allowed emissions cap. In the Cap-and-Trade system, governments set a maximum emission limit (cap). Companies emitting less than their limit can sell excess credits to others exceeding their cap. Some countries impose a carbon tax, but companies can reduce their tax burden by purchasing credits. Major Compliance Markets include the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), California Cap-and-Trade Program, China’s National ETS, Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), etc. In the Voluntary Carbon Markets (VCM) markets, companies and individuals buy carbon credits voluntarily to offset their emissions. These credits come from projects that remove or reduce CO₂ emissions, such as reforestation, renewable energy, and carbon capture. Read more: Effects of Air Pollution on Unborn Children, Neonates, Infants

Dhaka, the overcrowded capital city of Bangladesh, has ranked 4th on the list of cities with the worst air quality with an AQI index of 192 at 9:29 am on Saturday. Dhaka’s air was classified as 'unhealthy', according to the air quality and pollution city ranking. India's Delhi, Cambodia’s Phnom Penh, and Uganda’s Kampala occupied the first and second spots in the list, with AQI scores of 209, 203 and 194, respectively. Dhaka’s air quality ranks world's 3rd worst on Tuesday An AQI between 151 and 200 is considered 'unhealthy' while 201-300 is 'very unhealthy' and 301-400 is considered 'hazardous', posing severe health risks to residents. The AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, informs people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is and what associated health effects might be a concern for them. The AQI in Bangladesh is based on five 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. Improved air quality could save over 81,000 lives annually in Bangladesh: Report

Dhaka, the overcrowded capital city of Bangladesh, has ranked the second on the list of cities with the worst air quality with an AQI score of 267 at 9am this morning (January 30, 2025). Today's air was classified as “very unhealthy”, referring to a severe health threat, according to the AQI index. Such an unhealthy environment has been prevailing in the densely polluted city over the past few days. When the AQI value for particle pollution is between 50 and 100, air quality is considered ‘moderate’, usually sensitive individuals should consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion, between 101 and 150, air quality is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, between 150 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. Delhi’s India, Uganda’s Kampala and Iran’s Tehran respectively occupied the first, third and fourth positions on the list, with AQI score of 333, 194 and 183. Reducing air pollution time-consuming process: Rizwana The AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, informs people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is and what associated health effects might be a concern for them. The AQI in Bangladesh is based on five 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. As per World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, mainly due to increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.

Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan has said reducing air pollution is a time-consuming process dependent on economic capacity, development patterns, communication infrastructure, and the transport system. Thirty to 35% of Bangladesh’s air pollution originates from foreign sources, while 28% comes from power plants, underscoring the need for a well-defined action plan to control pollution, she said while speaking as the chief guest at a Stakeholder Consultation Workshop on the Bangladesh Clean Air Project on Wednesday. The workshop was held at the Department of Environment in Dhaka’s Agargaon. Rizwana, US Charge d’Affaires discuss critical environmental challenges Reducing air pollution is impossible without improving fuel quality and increasing refinery capacity. Even neighbouring countries that have enhanced their refineries still struggle with air pollution, often ranking among the most polluted cities. Therefore, Bangladesh must adopt a long-term strategy to combat pollution effectively, the adviser said. For the Clean project to be meaningful, tangible progress in pollution reduction must be visible. Merely monitoring and reporting the deterioration of air quality is not enough; concrete actions must be taken. The Department of Environment will launch a hotline where citizens can report air pollution issues during the winter months, added Rizwana. Adviser Rizwana urges unified global action to tackle climate change "This project must be designed in a way that ensures visible improvements in air quality. If we can reduce dust pollution by 13% and control industrial emissions, we will make significant progress,” she said. The World Bank has already joined the project, and more development partners should be engaged to ensure that it meets the country's real needs and provides practical solutions for the people, Rizwana also said. Environment Secretary Dr Farhina Ahmed, DoE Director General Dr Md Kamruzzaman, and World Bank Manager-Environment Christian Albert Peter spoke at the event, among others.

The north-western district, known for its eye-catching greenery and mango orchards, hosts 113 brick kilns, over 80 percent of these operating illegally. With prohibited chimneys spewing black smoke and polluting the air, the brick kilns continue to operate thanks to negilence of the authorities concerned. The rampant black smoke has been adversely impacting the livelihood and agricultural production in the district, said locals with a call for immediate action to shut the kilns. The Brick Manufacturing and Brick Kiln Establishment (Control) Act, amended in 2013 and again in 2019, mandates licensing for all brick kilns from the office of district deputy commissioner and approval from the Department of Environment (DoE). According to the law, it is prohibited to set up brick kilns in residential, protected, or commercial areas, city corporations, municipalities, or agricultural land. The use of wood as fuel in brick kilns is also banned. However, most of the brick kilns are situated near residential areas, mango orchards, and agricultural land, with many using wood as fuel, which is a complete violation of the law. According to data served from the district DoE, there are currently 113 brick kilns operating in the five upazilas, with only 20 kilns valid and the rest 93 unauthorised. Read: 4 acres of forestland recovered in Gazipur, 7 illegal brick kilns demolished in Tangail A field visit revealed vast open fields where black smoke was rising from the chimneys of brick kilns, overshadowing the surrounding greenery. Several brick kilns were found within mango orchards and residential areas, and within short distance. Some brickfields stand close to each other. In all five upazilas of the district, illegal brick kilns are cropping up in mango orchards and farmland. Standing at the new bridge in Chapainawabganj Sadar upazila, one can see smoke emitting off almost 14 brick kilns. Wishing not to be named, a brick kiln owner admitted that the number of legal brick kilns in the district is very low, claiming that like legal brick kilns, illegal kilns also pay VAT to the government. He also said that while everyone tries to set up brick kilns in open areas but such areas are hardly found. Abu Said, assistant director at the DoE in the district, said that the deputy commissioner has already been informed about the matter, with expectation to begin drives against illegal brickfields soon. Read more: 8 brick kilns fined Tk 12 lakh in Kushtia for unauthorised operations He, however, said it would not be possible to shut them down all at once as the number of the illegal brick kilns is so high. The drives will be carried out in phases. Deputy Commissioner Abdus Samad warned that no illegal brickfield would be spared and drives would be launched soon.