Dhaka woke up to 'unhealthy' air quality today, ranking fifth globally on the list of cities with the worst air pollution. With an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 176, the city joined others like Lahore, Kolkata, Delhi, and Kathmandu in facing hazardous conditions, prompting concerns over residents' health.

This morning, Dhaka awoke to alarming levels of air pollution, with the city's air quality categorized as 'unhealthy'. Ranking fifth globally on the list of cities grappling with severe pollution, Dhaka recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 176 at 9:01 am.

Joining the ranks of cities like Lahore, Kolkata, Delhi, and Kathmandu, Dhaka's air quality index raised concerns over residents' health. The AQI scale, which measures pollutants such as Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and Ozone, highlighted the city's ongoing struggle with pollution issues.

In Bangladesh, where air quality is monitored based on five criteria pollutants, the persisting problem of air pollution intensifies during winter, often resulting in 'unhealthy' conditions. Despite occasional improvements during the monsoon season, Dhaka consistently faces challenges in maintaining clean air.

Globally, air pollution remains a critical risk factor for death and disability, contributing to an estimated seven million fatalities annually, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The adverse health effects linked to pollution include increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.