Dhaka once again woke up to severely polluted air on Tuesday, ranking as the world’s third most polluted city, according to the Air Quality Index (AQI).

At 8:59 a.m., the capital recorded an AQI score of 221, placing it in the “very unhealthy” category. Delhi topped the global list with an extreme reading of 762, followed by Lahore with 463. Uzbekistan’s Tashkent came in fourth with a score of 208.

An AQI between 201 and 300 is considered “very unhealthy,” meaning that exposure can cause serious health effects, especially among vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and people with respiratory conditions.

Dhaka’s air quality typically worsens during the dry winter months due to emissions from brick kilns, construction dust, and traffic pollution. The situation usually improves during the monsoon season when rain helps clear the air.

Experts have long warned that persistent air pollution poses a major threat to public health in Bangladesh, contributing to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and shortening life expectancy.