Amid growing concerns over climate change and rising air pollution in cities worldwide, Dhaka — a megacity long plagued by poor air quality — has seen a rare improvement thanks to continuous rainfall. Since Wednesday afternoon (May 28), the capital’s air quality has significantly improved due to persistent rain. According to Swiss air monitoring organization Air Quality Index (AQI), Dhaka recorded an air quality score of 28 at 9 a.m. on Friday (May 30), indicating clean air. Even on Thursday, the city’s air quality was satisfactory, with a score of 44 around 8:40 a.m.

On Friday morning’s AQI list, Dhaka ranked 98th among global cities for air pollution.

Meanwhile, India’s capital Delhi topped the list with an AQI of 172, followed by Dubai in the UAE at 156. Other cities in the top five most polluted included Manama in Bahrain and Jakarta in Indonesia (both at 153), and Cairo in Egypt (151).

According to the AQI scale, a score between 0–50 is considered good, 51–100 moderate, and 101–150 unhealthy for sensitive groups. Scores between 151–200 are categorized as unhealthy, while readings from 201–300 are deemed very unhealthy, prompting health advisories for children, the elderly, and individuals with pre-existing conditions. An AQI between 301–400 is labeled hazardous, posing serious health risks to the general population.