Dhaka once again finds itself among the top cities with the worst air quality, ranking fifth globally with an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 159 as of 8:59 am today.

According to the index, the capital’s air quality falls under the category of "unhealthy for sensitive groups", posing potential health risks to individuals with pre-existing respiratory conditions, children, and the elderly.

Pakistan’s Lahore topped the list with an AQI score of 221, followed by India’s Delhi (194), Kolkata (187), and Qatar’s Doha (162).

The AQI categorizes air quality as follows: a score between 50 and 100 is considered "moderate", 101 to 150 is "unhealthy for sensitive groups", 151 to 200 is "unhealthy", 201 to 300 is "very unhealthy", and anything above 301 is deemed "hazardous", indicating serious health risks for the general population.

Bangladesh`s AQI measurements are based on five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO?), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO?), and ground-level ozone (O?).

Dhaka has long struggled with air pollution, particularly during the winter months when the air becomes significantly more polluted. Conditions typically improve during the monsoon season due to rainfall.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution is responsible for an estimated seven million deaths globally each year, largely due to increased risks of stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.