The quality of air in Bangladesh’s capital has shown very little improvement compared to Wednesday as it continued to be classified as “unhealthy for sensitive groups” in an international index.
In real time ranking, Dhaka stood at 12th place with a score of 129 according to the US Air Quality Index (AQI) measured on Thursday.
The AQI was developed by the Environmental Protection Agency for reporting daily air quality of any city or country.
India’s Delhi topped the list with a score of 194, according to data obtained from AirVisual, a smartphone application that shows the real-time air pollution index of any city.
China’s Beijing and Pakistan’s Lahore were second and third with individual scores of 193 and 179.
Dhaka, one of the most populated cities in the world, has long been grappling with air pollution. The city of mosques, as it is called, has continued to rank among the world’s top 10 most polluted cities.
The air quality in Dhaka has been declining for years now. It worsens during the dry months, from October to April.
Department of Environment Director (air quality management), Md Ziaul Haque, said the quality would gradually improve during the monsoon.
Brick kilns, vehicles run on fuels with higher sulphur levels, as well as construction work, have been identified as major sources of air pollution.
In fact, the condition is so serious that five of the top 10 causes of death in Bangladesh are related to air pollution, experts say.
Thursday, April 25, 2024
