Bangladesh's capital Dhaka ranked fifth on Wednesday in the AirVisual Index of the world's cities with the worst air quality, reports UNB.
In the real-time air quality ranking, Dhaka scored 164 on Wednesday and classified as "unhealthy", according to AirVisual.
On Tuesday, Dhaka remained on top of the air quality index for some time scoring 361 and was also classified as 'hazardous'.
The United States environmental experts developed the Air Quality Index (AQI) to rank air quality. The AQI is divided into six categories, indicating increasing levels harmful to one's health.
India's Mumbai topped the index with a score of 176 followed by Karachi of Pakistan and Kathmandu of Nepal.
Bangladesh, one of the most densely-populated countries in the world, has been struggling with air pollution for a long time and Dhaka continuously ranks among the world's most polluted cities.
Many environmental experts blamed the pollution for ongoing construction of Metro Rail. They also noted brick kilns, vehicles run on fuel containing higher levels sulphur, as well as construction work, have all been identified as major sources of air pollution.
On February 09, green activists, including Poribesh Bachao Andolan (Poba) and Nagorik Odhikar Sangrakkhan Forum, voiced deep concern that around 90 percent dwellers in Dhaka city are affected by serious dust pollution and urged the authorities concerned to take effective steps to check it.
They said the intensity of dust pollution rises usually during winter due to road digging and delayed disposal of wastes, causing the spread of various respiratory, allergy and skin diseases.
Following it, the High Court has ordered the Director General (DG) of Department of Environment (DoE) to take steps to conduct mobile court drives twice a week against those responsible for air pollution in the city.
A new study that uses data from the Global Burden of Disease Project has found that ambient air pollution shortens an average Bangladeshi's life by 1.87 years.
The study also suggested that that better air quality could lead to a significant extension of human lifespan around the world.
Currently, the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that, worldwide, seven million people die every year from exposure to such pollution with most deaths occurring in low and middle-income countries, chiefly in Africa and Asia.
