Dhaka ranked 52nd on the global list of cities with the worst air quality on Friday morning (June 13, 2025), recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 66 at 9:40am.
According to the AQI scale, this reading falls under the "moderate" category, indicating a relatively mild health concern. It marks the second consecutive day that the capital’s air has been classified at this level. Individuals sensitive to air pollution are advised to limit prolonged outdoor exertion.
Dhaka’s air was comparatively better than several cities in Europe and North America. Italy’s Milan (AQI 137) and Minneapolis in the United States (AQI 97) ranked 7th and 11th, respectively, both facing more polluted conditions.
Cities with the most polluted air on Friday were Lahore, Pakistan (165); Delhi, India (163); and Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (161). These scores placed them in the "unhealthy" category, posing significant health risks, especially for sensitive groups.
The AQI measures five key pollutants: PM10, PM2.5, nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), and ozone. In Bangladesh, air pollution levels typically worsen in winter due to weather patterns and increased emissions, while the monsoon season often brings temporary improvement.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that air pollution contributes to the premature deaths of around seven million people globally each year, primarily due to conditions such as stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, and respiratory infections.
Despite the current improvement, air quality remains a persistent challenge for Dhaka, one of the world’s most densely populated urban centres.
