This morning, Dhaka's air quality was rated as ‘moderate’ with an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 92 at 8:55 am, placing the city 17th among the world's most polluted cities.

Topping the list were Dubai in the UAE with an AQI of 181, followed by Kampala in Uganda and Jakarta in Indonesia, both at 160.

An AQI score between 50 and 100 is considered ‘moderate,’ indicating generally acceptable air quality but potential moderate health concerns for individuals sensitive to air pollution.

In Bangladesh, the AQI measures five pollutants: Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and Ozone.

Dhaka has long battled air pollution, worsening in winter and improving during the monsoon. Globally, air pollution is a top risk factor for death and disability. The World Health Organization (WHO) attributes around seven million deaths annually to air pollution.