This morning, Dhaka's air quality was categorized as 'unhealthy for sensitive groups' with an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 134 at 8:59 am. Dhaka ranked 11th on the global list of cities with the worst air quality.

Cities like Delhi, Cairo City, and Chiang Mai topped the list with higher AQI scores of 193, 171, and 170 respectively. An AQI value between 101 and 150 indicates air quality that is 'unhealthy for sensitive groups', posing potential health risks to vulnerable individuals.

The AQI is based on five pollutants in Bangladesh: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone. Dhaka typically faces air pollution challenges, with air quality deteriorating in winter and improving during the monsoon season.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution causes an estimated seven million deaths globally each year, primarily due to increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, and respiratory infections.