Air quality: Bashundhara, Gulshan among most polluted areas in Dhaka

Air quality in different parts of Dhaka, including upscale residential areas such as Gulshan and Baridhara, have been experiencing “very unhealthy” air quality over quite a long time.

According to Air Visuals, as of 5pm Monday, air quality in and around Bashundhara, Gulshan and Baridhara showed an AQI (Air Quality Index) score of307, 267, and 252 respectively.

Dhaka, overall, ranked first among cities with the worst air quality, with an AQI score of 252.

The air was classified as "very unhealthy."

Earlier in the morning, Dhaka posted an AQI score of 195.

When the AQI value is between 201 and 300, every city dweller is more likely to be affected and people with respiratory diseases are advised to limit outdoor activities.

The AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, informs people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is, and what associated health effects might be a concern for them.

In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants – Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone (O3).

The Department of Environment has also set national ambient air quality standards for these pollutants. These standards aim to protect against adverse human health impacts.

Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution. Its air quality usually improves during monsoon.