Dhaka, the bustling capital of Bangladesh, has once again set a grim and troubling record—cementing its position at the top of the world’s most polluted cities.
According to the latest global air quality report, Dhaka recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 299, placing it firmly in the “very unhealthy” purple category, just one step below hazardous levels.
The report, which ranks the top 10 most polluted cities worldwide, presents a stark picture of a megacity increasingly trapped under a toxic blanket of pollution. Dhaka has overtaken other notoriously polluted cities such as Delhi (AQI 264), Lahore (228) and Kolkata (225), making it the most polluted city globally during the reporting period.
Cities like Bishkek, Sarajevo, Kraków, Medan, Warsaw and Kabul complete the list—underscoring that air pollution is a global crisis, though its impacts are particularly severe in fast-growing urban centers like Dhaka.
Experts say Dhaka’s worsening air quality is no longer limited to traffic congestion or peak working hours. Even during holidays and nighttime—when vehicular movement drops significantly—the city continues to record dangerously high pollution levels.
“Dhaka’s return to ‘very unhealthy’ air during holidays exposes the structural nature of its pollution problem,” said Professor Dr Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumder, chairman of the Center for Atmospheric Pollution Studies (CAPS). “An AQI of 246 at night indicates persistent emissions from brick kilns, construction dust, diesel generators and regional transboundary pollution—not just daytime traffic.”
He explained that calm winter meteorology, including low wind speed and temperature inversion, traps fine particles close to the ground, allowing pollution to accumulate even when human activity slows down. “This episode shows that short-term measures or traffic-focused actions are insufficient,” he added.
On winter mornings, Dhaka often wakes up under a thick gray haze that has become disturbingly familiar. Reduced visibility, a sharp smell in the air, and persistent coughing have turned daily life into a health risk. Residents frequently report eye irritation, breathing difficulties, throat infections, and headaches, while hospitals see a seasonal spike in patients suffering from respiratory and cardiovascular complications.
Health authorities warn that prolonged exposure to PM2.5 and PM10 particles—microscopic pollutants capable of entering the bloodstream—can lead to asthma, chronic bronchitis, heart disease, stroke, and premature death. Children, the elderly, pregnant women, and outdoor workers are particularly vulnerable.
“Dhaka’s air quality is not just poor; it’s dangerously deteriorating, and urgent action is needed to prevent a public health catastrophe,” said Dr. Kamruzamm Mojumder, environmental science teacher at Stamford University, Dhaka. He warned that without controlling vehicular and industrial emissions, the situation would worsen each year.
Beyond health, worsening air quality is reshaping lifestyles across the capital. Morning walks, outdoor sports, and open-air markets are increasingly avoided during winter months. Parents restrict children from playing outside, while schools report absenteeism linked to pollution-induced illnesses.
For many families, air purifiers and masks have become daily necessities rather than occasional precautions—adding financial pressure, particularly for middle- and lower-income households. Outdoor workers, including rickshaw pullers, traffic police, and construction laborers, continue to face prolonged exposure with minimal protection.
Environmentalists warn that clean air is slowly becoming a class privilege, deepening inequality in an already overstretched city.
Urban planners point to unplanned urbanization, unregulated industrial zones, illegal brick kilns, unchecked construction dust, and poor waste management as key contributors to Dhaka’s pollution crisis. Although policies exist, enforcement remains inconsistent.
“Dhaka needs year-round emission control, strict construction management, cleaner fuels, kiln modernization and regional cooperation,” said Professor Md Sirajul Islam of North South University’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. “Without addressing sources and governance failures, holiday or lockdown periods will not guarantee breathable air for residents’ health citywide.”
Efforts such as promoting CNG vehicles, expanding green spaces, and tightening industrial rules have so far failed to deliver lasting improvements. Citizens and experts alike are calling for real-time air quality monitoring, public health advisories and strict accountability for polluters.
Dhaka’s repeated record-breaking pollution is no longer an environmental anomaly—it is a warning. Without decisive, coordinated, and long-term action, the capital risks normalizing a level of air pollution that steadily erodes public health, productivity, and quality of life.
As winter deepens, the message grows clearer: Dhaka cannot afford to keep breaking its own pollution records—because each new record comes at the cost of its people’s health and future.
