Dhaka, the densely populated capital of Bangladesh, ranked second among the world’s most polluted cities on Friday morning, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 299 at 08:45am. 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 has long struggled with air pollution. Air quality usually deteriorates in winter and improves during the monsoon season.

Source: Dhaka Tribune February 20, 2026 06:43 UTC