Dhaka, the densely populated capital of Bangladesh, ranked fifth among the world’s most polluted cities on Tuesday morning, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 178 at 9:28 am. The city’s air was classified as “unhealthy,” indicating a serious health threat, according to the AQI report. 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. Dhaka has long struggled with air pollution.

Source: Dhaka Tribune March 02, 2026 04:16 UTC