Dhaka has once again found itself among the most polluted cities in the world. 

According to real-time data from IQAir released at 8:45am on Thursday (May 15), the capital of Bangladesh ranked fifth globally, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 163 — a level classified as “unhealthy.”

Environmental experts warn that prolonged exposure to such air quality can have serious consequences for public health, especially for children, the elderly, and people with respiratory or heart conditions.

The main pollutant contributing to Dhaka’s poor air quality is fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5. On Thursday morning, the concentration of PM2.5 in the city’s air was recorded at nearly 15 times higher than the World Health Organization (WHO)’s recommended safe limit.

“This level of air pollution increases the risk of respiratory infections, heart disease, and even premature death,” a local environmental health specialist told banglanews24.com. “We need urgent and coordinated policy actions to address this crisis.”

In the latest IQAir rankings, Baghdad topped the list with an AQI of 1,092 — a reading well beyond the “hazardous” threshold of 301. New Delhi followed as the second most polluted city with an AQI score of 571, while Lahore ranked third at 173.

According to IQAir, an AQI score between 151 and 200 is considered hazardous for the general population, especially for vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions. Anything above 301 is deemed “extremely hazardous.”

In South Asia, New Delhi was ranked the second most polluted city with an AQI score of 571, placing it in the “hazardous” category. Lahore, Pakistan, followed with a score of 173.

The IQAir index ranks cities in real time based on pollution data sourced from ground monitoring stations. The ranking fluctuates throughout the day depending on weather, emissions, and local activity.

SMS/