Dhaka climbs to 3rd on Global Air Pollution list

Dhaka ranked the world’s third most polluted city on Wednesday morning, with its air quality reaching an “unhealthy” level, according to real-time data from Swiss air-quality monitoring platform IQAir.

Dhaka recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 165 at 8:35am, placing it third on IQAir’s list of cities with the worst air pollution based on the US AQI standard.

Malaysia’s Kuching topped the list with an AQI of 185, followed by the country’s capital Kuala Lumpur with a score of 177.

Vietnam’s capital Hanoi ranked fourth with an AQI of 161, while Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, was fifth with a score of 158.

Uganda’s Kampala, India’s Delhi and Pakistan’s Lahore each recorded an AQI of 155, ranking sixth, seventh and eighth respectively. Kolkata in India followed with a score of 144, while Egypt’s Cairo rounded out the top 10 with 129.

An AQI between 151 and 200 is classified as “unhealthy”, meaning everyone may experience health effects, with sensitive groups facing greater risks.

Experts advise children, older people and those with respiratory conditions to limit outdoor exposure during such periods. Others are also advised to wear masks when going outside, particularly in areas with heavy pollution.