Air pollution levels are rising globally, and Dhaka is no exception. The city's air quality has become increasingly hazardous, particularly during the winter months. Early this season, Dhaka experienced several days of "very unhealthy" air, a trend that continues today.

According to data from IQAir, an international air quality monitoring organization, Dhaka ranked as the most polluted city in the world at 9 AM on Thursday, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 249, marking it as "very unhealthy" for residents. Karachi, Pakistan, followed in second place with a score of 223, while Tashkent, Uzbekistan, ranked fourth with a score of 204, both cities also classified as "very unhealthy." Meanwhile, Delhi, India, ranked sixth with an AQI score of 190, indicating unhealthy air quality.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that air pollution causes approximately 7 million deaths annually worldwide. The primary health risks include strokes, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer, and respiratory infections.