According to the Air Quality Index (AQI), Bangladesh’s capital city Dhaka has been ranked as the world's most polluted city. With a staggering score of 445 Dhaka’s air is classified as “Hazardous” raising significant concerns about the public health and the urgent need for pollution control measures.

Global Rankings in Air Pollution

1st Place: Dhaka, Bangladesh – AQI Score: 445 (“Hazardous”)

2nd Place: Baghdad, Iraq – AQI Score: 444

3rd Place: Karachi, Pakistan – AQI Score: 248

4th Place: Hanoi, Vietnam – AQI Score: 216

5th Place: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia – AQI Score: 212

The AQI Set categories of air quality into Various Levels

101 to 150: Unhealthy for sensitive groups.

151 to 200: Unhealthy.

201 to 300: Very unhealthy.

301+: Hazardous, posing severe health risks to all residents.

Impact on Health and Environment

This Hazardous air quality can lead to respiratory issues, cardiovascular diseases and other severe health conditions. Prolonged exposure to high pollution levels increases the risk of chronic illnesses for residents, particularly children and the elderly.

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Bangladesh’s Response to Air Pollution

In response to this crisis Bangladesh’s Interim Government Advisory Council has directed relevant technical authorities to implement the Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry's recommendations to combat air pollution. Key measures include:

1. Brick Kiln Regulation: Addressing pollution caused from the traditional brick kilns.

2. Tax Reductions: Encouraging peoples to use of  the air purifiers by reducing import duties.

3. Future Planning: Collaborating with the financial departments to create actionable plans for reducing emissions.

Government Initiatives

The council emphasised the need for coordinated efforts among government departments including the Ministry of Finance and the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to ensure effective implementation of policies aimed at improving air quality.