Is the air quality good in Dhaka?
On December 8, 2025, at 10:30 PM PT, Dhaka, Bangladesh, is experiencing very poor air quality, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 246 classified as very unhealthy.
Short-term exposure to these conditions air can trigger coughing, breathing difficulty, chest tightness, and worsen asthma or heart disease, especially in children, older adults, pregnant people, and those with lung or heart conditions.
Air quality is dynamic and, like the weather, can change frequently. Dhaka ranked as the 4th most polluted major city in the world on Tuesday morning.
Click here for a real-time air quality map of Dhaka.
While the air quality conditions today are unusually poor, it is important to note that the average PM2.5 concentration in 2024 for Dhaka was 78 µg/m³, equating to an AQI of 162 (“unhealthy”) and was 15.6 times the WHO annual guideline of 5 µg/m³.
Dhaka, Bangladesh ranked as the 4th most polluted major city on Dec 8, 2025. Source: IQAir.
When will air quality improve in Dhaka?
Air quality in Dhaka is expected to remain poor over the next one to two days. Although AQI levels may drop gradually, they will still stay in the "unhealthy" to "unhealthy for sensitive groups" range.
Hourly air quality forecast for Dhaka, Bangladesh for Dec 8, 2025. Source: IQAir.
Historically, Dhaka’s air quality tends to remain poor through the cool and dry season and improves more consistently during the monsoon months, when rain and stronger winds help to disperse and wash out pollutants (1).
Air quality map of Dhaka, Bangladesh on Dec 8, 2025. Source: IQAir.
What is causing poor air quality in Dhaka?
The very unhealthy air quality in Dhaka is driven by a combination of strong local pollution sources and seasonal weather patterns that trap pollutants near the ground (2).
Key contributors identified by environmental assessments and government linked reports include:
- Brick kilns around the city that burn low quality fuels and release large amounts of fine particulate matter and other pollutants into the air (3).
- Exhaust from a dense and growing vehicle fleet, including diesel and older gasoline engines that emit soot, nitrogen dioxide, and carbon monoxide (4).
- Dust from extensive construction activity, unpaved or damaged roads, and demolition work, which contributes to high PM10 levels, especially on dry and windy days.
- Seasonal meteorological conditions during winter, including cooler temperatures, temperature inversions, and lighter winds, which reduce vertical mixing and allow pollution to accumulate over the city (5).
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.
