Dhaka:Dhaka, the overcrowded capital city of Bangladesh, ranked fourth on the list of cities with the worst air quality, recording an AQI index of 189 at 09:08 am on Saturday.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Dhaka's air quality was classified as 'unhealthy' in the air quality and pollution city ranking. India's Delhi, Pakistan's Lahore, and India's Kolkata occupied the first, second, and third spots on the list, with AQI scores of 539, 273, and 198, respectively.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) classifies air as 'unhealthy for sensitive groups' when the value is between 101 and 150, 'unhealthy' between 150 and 200, 'very unhealthy' from 201 to 300, and 'hazardous' at 301 or above, posing significant health risks to residents. The AQI serves as an index for reporting daily air quality, informing the public about pollution levels and potential health effects.
In Bangladesh, the AQI is determined 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, with air quality typically deteriorating in winter and improving during the monsoon season.