Despite a largely deserted capital during the Eid holidays, Dhaka’s air quality showed no sign of improvement, ranking it as the third most polluted city in the world on Sunday (June 8) morning.

According to real-time data from IQAir, a global air quality monitoring organization, the city recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 160 at 8:19 am on June 8—placing it in the "unhealthy" category for the general population.

Santiago, the capital of Chile, topped the list with an AQI of 172, followed by Delhi, India, at 167.

IQAir’s guidelines classify AQI scores between 151 and 200 as “unhealthy,” meaning even the general population may begin to experience health effects, while sensitive groups could face more serious issues. A score of 101–150 is considered harmful to sensitive groups, 51–100 is moderate, and 0–50 is regarded as good.

Public health experts expressed concern that, despite reduced vehicular movement and industrial activity during Eid, pollution levels in Dhaka remain alarmingly high—primarily due to suspended particulate matter and dust that linger in the air.

Environmentalists say this persistent pollution highlights the urgent need for long-term, structural changes in urban planning, construction practices, and air pollution control.

SMS/