Dhaka:Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, ranked fifth among cities with the worst air quality, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 161 at 940 a.m. on Saturday.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the air quality in Dhaka was classified as 'unhealthy.' The air quality and pollution city ranking showed that Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, Lahore in Pakistan, Mumbai in India, and Jakarta in Indonesia occupied the first four positions on the list, with AQI scores of 216, 170, 165, and 162, respectively.
An AQI between 151 and 200 is considered 'unhealthy,' while scores from 201-300 are labeled 'very unhealthy,' and 301-400 are deemed 'hazardous,' posing severe health risks to residents. The AQI serves as an index for reporting daily air quality, informing people about the cleanliness or pollution levels in a city and potential health concerns.
The AQI in Bangladesh is evaluated based on five 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 issues, with air quality typically deteriorating in winter and improving during the monsoon season.