Dhaka, the densely populated capital of Bangladesh, ranked second among the world’s most polluted cities on Wednesday morning, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 296 at 9:40am. The city’s air was classified as ‘very unhealthy’, indicating a serious health threat, according to the AQI report. The AQI, which reports daily air quality, informs residents how clean or polluted the air is and highlights potential health effects. Dhaka's air quality remains ‘very unhealthy’Dhaka has long struggled with air pollution. Air quality usually deteriorates in winter and improves during the monsoon season.

Source: Dhaka Tribune January 21, 2026 07:41 UTC