Dhaka ranked eighth on the list of cities with the worst air quality this morning (October 23, 2025), recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 140 at 10:25am.

According to the AQI index, the capital’s air was classified as “unhealthy for sensitive groups,” indicating a potential health risk for individuals with respiratory conditions, children, and the elderly.

An AQI score between 50 and 100 indicates “moderate” air quality, while readings between 101 and 150 are considered “unhealthy for sensitive groups.” Air quality between 151 and 200 is rated “unhealthy,” between 201 and 300 “very unhealthy,” and above 301 “hazardous,” posing serious health risks to residents.

Pakistan’s Lahore, India’s Delhi, and Iraq’s Baghdad topped Thursday’s list with AQI scores of 251, 240, and 196 respectively.

The AQI measures daily air quality and indicates how polluted the air is, as well as the potential health effects. In Bangladesh, the index is based on five key pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO?), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO?), and ozone (O?).

Dhaka has long struggled with poor air quality, particularly during the dry winter months, while conditions typically improve during the monsoon season.

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