Dhaka recorded the world’s ninth worst air quality on the morning of May 18, 2025, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 122 at 9:50 AM, according to data from global air quality monitoring sources.
An AQI of 122 falls under the category of “unhealthy for sensitive groups,” posing health risks to vulnerable individuals such as children, the elderly, and people with pre-existing respiratory or cardiovascular conditions.
The AQI scale ranges from 0 to 500, where:
- 0–50 is ‘good’
- 51–100 is ‘moderate’
- 101–150 is ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’
- 151–200 is ‘unhealthy’
- 201–300 is ‘very unhealthy’
- Above 300 is ‘hazardous’
Doha (Qatar) topped the global list with an AQI of 231, followed by Manama (Bahrain) at 219 and Chengdu (China) at 191.
In Bangladesh, AQI levels are calculated based on concentrations of five key pollutants: PM10, PM2.5, nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), and ground-level ozone (O₃).
Dhaka’s air quality has been a longstanding concern, typically worsening in the winter due to dry weather and increased emissions, while improving somewhat during the monsoon season.
Air pollution continues to be a pressing global health issue. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it contributes to around seven million deaths annually, linked to diseases such as stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer, and respiratory infections.
