Air pollution continues to worsen across cities worldwide due to climate change, and Dhaka—Bangladesh's megacity—remains among the most affected. For several days now, Dhaka has ranked near the top of the list of the world’s most polluted cities.

On Monday, May 5, Dhaka’s air was still categorized as “unhealthy.” According to IQAir, an international air quality monitoring agency, the city recorded an AQI score of 195 around 7:30 a.m., placing it second globally in terms of air pollution.

At the same time, Riyadh in Saudi Arabia ranked first with an AQI of 222. Karachi, Pakistan followed in third with a score of 176, Jakarta, Indonesia was fourth with 157, and Hanoi, Vietnam held the fifth spot with a score of 126.

For reference, an AQI score between 0 and 50 is considered good, while 51–100 is moderate. A range of 101–150 is deemed unhealthy for sensitive groups, and 151–200 falls into the “unhealthy” category for the general public. Scores between 201 and 300 are classified as “very unhealthy,” prompting recommendations for children, elderly people, and those with health conditions to remain indoors. AQI values between 301 and 400 are marked as “hazardous,” indicating a serious health risk for all residents.