This morning (Saturday, April 27th), Dhaka's air quality reached concerning levels, earning the city a spot on the list of cities with the worst air quality globally. With an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 143 at 09:05 am, Dhaka ranked 6th, highlighting the severity of the pollution situation. Nepal's Kathmandu, Thailand's Chiang Mai, and Vietnam's Hanoi secured the top three spots, with AQI scores of 188, 162, and 160, respectively. An AQI value between 101 and 150 indicates air quality is 'unhealthy for sensitive groups', while readings above 151 are considered 'unhealthy'.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has long warned of the deadly impact of air pollution, attributing an estimated seven million deaths annually to this invisible killer. The health consequences are dire, with increased mortality rates from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections linked to poor air quality.

In Bangladesh, AQI is measured based on five criteria pollutants, including particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone. Dhaka's struggle with air pollution is longstanding, typically worsening in winter and improving during the monsoon season.