Is the air quality good in Dhaka?
As of March 5, 2026, at 9:00 PM PT, Dhaka, Bangladesh, is experiencing very poor air quality, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) exceeding 200. Air conditions fall within the very unhealthy to hazardous range, driven primarily by elevated PM2.5 concentrations.
These conditions may increase the risk of respiratory issues, worsen heart problems, and impair lung function, particularly for children, the elderly, and people with underlying health conditions.
For a complete, real-time view of current pollution levels, see Dhaka's air quality map.
While air quality today is exceptionally poor, long-term data highlight the scale of the challenge. In 2024, Dhaka’s average PM2.5 concentration was 78 µg/m³, corresponding to an AQI of 162, classified as unhealthy, and measuring 15.6 times the WHO annual guideline of 5 µg/m³.
That year, Dhaka ranked as the 26th most polluted city globally, while Bangladesh was identified as the second most polluted country in the world, underscoring the country’s ongoing air quality crisis.
Dhaka, Bangladesh, ranked among the most polluted major cities as of March 5, 2026, at 9:00 PM (PT). Source: IQAir.
When will the air quality improve in Dhaka?
Meaningful improvement is unlikely until the monsoon season arrives, typically from June onward, when increased rainfall and stronger winds help cleanse the atmosphere. In the near term, brief relief may come from isolated rain events or wind gusts, but these tend to be temporary (1).
Hourly air quality forecast for Dhaka, Bangladesh, as of March 5, 2026, at 9:00 PM (PT). Source: IQAir.
Daily air quality trends in Dhaka, Bangladesh, over the past 30 days. Source: IQAir.
Air quality map of Dhaka, Bangladesh, as of March 5, 2026, at 9:00 PM (PT). Source: IQAir.
What is causing poor air quality in Dhaka?
Dhaka's poor air quality is driven by year-round structural emission sources. The six key PM2.5 contributors include household combustion, power plants, brick kilns, solid waste burning, road dust, and vehicle exhaust, with household combustion alone accounting for the largest share (2).
Over 7,000 traditional brick kilns operate nationwide with inadequate emission controls, while transboundary pollution contributes an additional 25% of fine particulates. Large-scale construction projects generate extensive resuspended dust, further compounding pollution levels year-round (3).
Weak enforcement of vehicle emission standards and construction site dust controls continues to allow these overlapping sources to sustain hazardous conditions well beyond the winter months.
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How can I protect myself from poor air quality?
- Get a free air quality app for real-time air quality alerts and forecasts.
- Shut doors and windows and set the HVAC to recirculate mode.
- Contribute to your community’s outdoor air quality data.
- Stay indoors when air quality is poor; if you do need to go outdoors, wear a KN95/FFP2 mask.
- Run a high-performance air purifier to filter particles, gases, and other pollutants.
