Dhaka's air quality deteriorates significantly during winter, primarily due to increased emissions from brick kilns, construction activities and vehicular pollution

Dhaka, the bustling capital of Bangladesh, is grappling with a worsening air pollution problem that endangers both public health and economic vitalities.

Over the past week, Dhaka's Air Quality Index (AQI) has consistently ranked among the highest globally, indicating severe air pollution levels.

On Wednesday at 9:10am, Dhaka recorded an AQI of 249, placing it as the third most polluted city in the world.

On Saturday at 9:07am, topped the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality with an AQI score of 281.

More worrying is that Dhaka's air quality deteriorates significantly during winter, primarily due to increased emissions from brick kilns, construction activities and vehicular pollution.

According to a study by the Centre for Atmospheric Pollution Studies (CAPS) at Stamford University Bangladesh, the concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) surges during this season, often exceeding the WHO's safe limit by several folds.

The colder temperature and lower wind speeds cause pollutants to linger in the atmosphere, creating thick smog that engulfs the city.

Besides, rural practices like burning biomass for heating exacerbate the situation by adding to the airborne pollutants.