Air pollution continues to rise globally due to climate change and urban expansion, with megacities like Dhaka long caught in its grip. Though Dhaka often ranks among the world’s most polluted cities, recent rainfall has led to a slight improvement in its air quality. According to international air monitoring platform IQAir, the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s capital, Kinshasa, topped the global pollution index on the morning of July 2nd with an AQI (Air Quality Index) score of 183.

On the same day, Dhaka recorded an AQI score of 77, placing it 22nd on the list of the most polluted cities worldwide. This score falls into the “moderate” category, suggesting that air quality was acceptable for most but may still pose a risk to sensitive groups.

Other cities with high pollution levels included Manama in Bahrain and Dubai in the UAE, both scoring 163. Doha, Qatar followed with 152, and Jakarta, Indonesia stood at 149. The AQI scale categorizes scores from 0–50 as “good,” 51–100 as “moderate,” and 101–150 as “unhealthy for sensitive groups.” Scores from 151–200 are labeled “unhealthy,” while 201–300 are considered “very unhealthy.” An AQI above 300 is deemed “hazardous,” posing serious health risks for all urban residents, especially children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing conditions.