Air Quality Index: This morning, Dhaka ranks 5th worst in air quality

This morning, Dhaka's air quality was classified as 'unhealthy'.

At 8:55 am, with an air quality index (AQI) score of 155, Dhaka ranked fifth on the list of cities with the worst air quality in the world.

Pakistan's Karachi, Kuwait's Kuwait City and Indonesia's Jakarta occupied the first three spots on the list, with AQI scores of 168, 158 and 157, respectively.

Between 150 and 200, the AQI is deemed 'unhealthy,' between 201 and 300,'very unhealthy,' and above 301, 'hazardous,' posing serious health risks to residents.

The AQI in Bangladesh is based on five criteria pollutants: Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone.

Dhaka has long struggled with air pollution problems. Typically, its air quality declines during the winter and improves during the monsoon.

Globally, air pollution consistently ranks among the leading causes of death and disability.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people annually, primarily due to an increase in the incidence of stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.