Dhaka ranks 10th in worst air quality index

FT ONLINE

Bangladesh’s capital has been ranked as the 10th most polluted city in the world.

Dhaka scored 157 in the US Air Quality Index (AQI) at 1pm on Monday. The city’s air was classified as “unhealthy.”

AQI was developed by the Environmental Protection Agency for reporting daily air quality of any city or country.

China’s Beijing topped the list of cities with worst air quality with an AQI of 305. Shenyang, another Chinese city, was placed at 2 followed by Afghanistan’s Kabul, according to AirVisual.

Bangladesh, one of the most densely-populated countries in the world, has been struggling with air pollution for a long time while Dhaka has continued to rank among the most polluted cities.

Brick kilns, vehicles run by fuels with higher level sulphur, as well as construction works have been identified as major sources of air pollution.

The air quality further declines during the dry months – from October to April – but improves in the monsoon.

The situation is very serious, experts say, pointing out that five of the top 10 causes of deaths in Bangladesh are related to air pollution.