The air quality in Dhaka has deteriorated to a highly unfortunate state, ranking 4th as one of the most severe instances of pollution globally.

Residents of Dhaka were gasping for air on Wednesday, January 24 as the city recorded a dangerous Air Quality Index (AQI) of 215 and took an appalling fourth place in a global ranking of the most polluted cities.

Dhaka's air quality is so poor that air pollution is a constant problem in the city, and the winter months are particularly bad due to inclement weather. However, there may be brief periods of relief during the monsoon season.

The World Health Organization (WHO) paints a grim picture, with nearly 70 million people worldwide suffering from air pollution-related diseases every year. This figure is based on the urgency of addressing Dhaka's air quality crisis.

India's Delhi recorded an alarming AQI of 300, topping the global ranking of cities with severe air pollution. Close behind was Karachi in Pakistan with an AQI of 259 and Kolkata in India with a score of 220. The AQI scale identifies any value above 200 as falling into the "very unhealthy" category, signaling a substantial risk of shortness of breath, shortness of breath, and shortness of breath. and cardiovascular problems for residents of these cities.