Dhaka:Air quality in Bangladesh's major cities has significantly worsened following the end of the monsoon, with dangerous levels of fine particulate matter detected in the capital, Dhaka, according to environmental monitoring data.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Department of Environment (DoE) reported on October 26 that residents in cities such as Dhaka, Chattogram, Barishal, Mymensigh, and Rangpur are breathing toxic air. The Air Quality Index (AQI) scores for these cities have sharply increased, indicating unhealthy conditions.
On October 26, Dhaka recorded an AQI of 163, classified as unhealthy. Other cities such as Chattogram and Gazipur had similar scores, while Narayanganj reached 176 and Mymensigh 184. Data from IQAir's Real-Time City Ranking further highlighted Dhaka's ongoing air quality challenges, with PM2.5 levels placing it among the world's most polluted cities.
The DoE bases its AQI measurements on five criteria pollutants, including PM10 and PM2.5. An AQI of 151-200 is deemed unhealthy, and scores above 300 are considered hazardous. Dr. Mohammad Abdul Motalib, DoE's deputy director of air quality, noted that seasonal changes contribute to pollution, with brick kiln operations and dust emissions exacerbating the situation during the dry season.
The DoE has implemented a nationwide air quality monitoring network, utilizing Continuous Air Monitoring Stations (CAMS) and Compact Continuous Air Monitoring Stations (CCAMS) across various regions. Air quality data is gathered and made available to the public through the DoE's website.