Air pollution is becoming an increasingly serious concern in major cities around the world due to climate change and rapid urbanization. Dhaka, Bangladesh’s capital and one of the world’s most densely populated megacities, has long struggled with poor air quality. While sporadic rainfall sometimes brings temporary relief, the city's pollution levels remain persistently high.

On Sunday, July 20, the sky over Dhaka was covered in thick clouds, and light rain was reported in the morning. By 9:30 AM, data from global air quality monitoring platform IQAir showed that Dhaka ranked 35th among the world’s most polluted cities, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 62. This level falls within the "moderate" category.

At the same time, Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, topped the list with a hazardous AQI score of 170. Following closely were Kampala (Uganda) with a score of 169, Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) at 152, Santiago (Chile) with 139, and Lahore (Pakistan) in fifth place at 122.

What Do AQI Scores Mean?

0–50: Good

51–100: Moderate

101–150: Unhealthy for sensitive groups

151–200: Unhealthy

201–300: Very Unhealthy

301–400: Hazardous

When AQI values exceed 200, health experts recommend that vulnerable individuals — such as children, elderly people, and those with chronic illnesses — remain indoors. Even healthy individuals are advised to limit outdoor activities when pollution levels are high.