Air pollution is on the rise in many cities around the world due to climate change and other factors. Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, has long been plagued by poor air quality and frequently ranks among the most polluted cities globally. On Monday, April 21, the city’s air remained unhealthy for sensitive groups. According to IQAir, an international air quality monitoring agency, Dhaka ranked 10th worldwide with an AQI (Air Quality Index) score of 115 as of 7:30 a.m.

At the same time, Delhi topped the list with a score of 178, followed by Kathmandu (149), Lahore (148), Dakar (143), and Tashkent (142). The AQI scale categorizes air quality from 0–50 as good, 51–100 as moderate, 101–150 as unhealthy for sensitive individuals, and 151–200 as generally unhealthy. Scores from 201–300 are deemed very unhealthy, prompting recommendations for children, the elderly, and those with illnesses to stay indoors, while others are advised to limit outdoor activities. An AQI of 301–400 is considered hazardous and poses severe health risks to all residents.