Breathing the unbearable: Choking reality of Dhaka's toxic air

The air we breathe is supposed to give us life. But in Dhaka, it often feels like every inhalation chips away at it. 

With a blanket of toxic smog hanging over the city for months, the situation has spiralled into a public health emergency. 

Dhaka dwellers advised to wear facemask for very unhealthy AQI

The Air Quality Index (AQI) readings have consistently ranked Dhaka as the world's most polluted city, with an AQI score reaching a hazardous 493 as recently as the start of 2025. 

What's even more alarming is that residents have endured "unhealthy" or worse air quality for nearly nine consecutive months.

How does the AQI work?

The US Air Quality Index (AQI) is a system designed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to communicate the health risks associated with outdoor air quality. It categorises air quality into six color-coded levels, each representing a specific range of index values and corresponding health concerns. 

A lower AQI value, such as 50 or below, indicates good air quality, while values above 300 signify hazardous conditions. The AQI assigns a value of 100 to the concentration level of pollutants considered safe under short-term national air quality standards. 

When AQI values exceed 100, air quality becomes unhealthy, initially for sensitive groups and eventually for the entire population as values rise. 

A city held hostage by pollutants

The severity of air pollution in Dhaka is not new, but its persistence has reached unprecedented levels. 

In 2023, Bangladesh had an average PM2.5 concentration of nearly 80 micrograms per cubic metre—a staggering 16 times higher than the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommended annual limit of 5 μg/m³. 

Dhaka's toxic air is not merely a statistic; it is a crisis that affects every heartbeat, every breath, and every child's future.

Choking on the job: How Dhaka's smog affects rickshaw pullers, ride-hailing bikers and bus crews

The burden of air pollution on vulnerable groups, particularly children, is overwhelming. According to UNICEF, the rising disease burden among children due to air pollution continues unabated in Bangladesh.

Brick kilns, industrial fumes, vehicular emissions, and relentless construction dust form a deadly cocktail of pollutants in Dhaka. These activities are fuelled by the city's unplanned urban sprawl and economic pressures. 

The infamous PM2.5 particles, which measure less than 2.5 micrometres in diameter, are the primary culprits. These microscopic invaders penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, triggering respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

The consequences are dire. 

The fifth edition of the State of Global Air report revealed that air pollution claimed 2.36 lakh lives in Bangladesh in 2021 alone. 

Dhaka residents breathed "good" air for only eight days in 2023.

But despite the eight days, 2023 still managed to become the year of the worst air quality for Bangladesh in the last eight years, according to a study by the Center for Atmospheric Pollution Studies (CAPS).

And now, as Dhaka inches closer to overtaking Delhi's notorious reputation, residents' tolerance levels have been stretched to their limits.

Government response: Too little, too late?

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has issued advisories, urging citizens to wear masks to cope with the worsening air quality. 

This is the second such plea in just a month. 

However, these measures, while necessary, barely scratch the surface of the problem. 

Environmental Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan has called for stricter enforcement of emission controls and announced the formation of a task force, but meaningful progress remains elusive.

Tasfia Tasneem, who never experienced serious illness before, now suffers from respiratory problems.

'Is anyone even analysing the air?'

"It's alarming how Dhaka's air quality has deteriorated to the point where even before the temperatures drop, many of us are falling sick. Normally, I wouldn't get ill during seasonal changes or even in winter, but this year feels different," she says, adding that the air feels heavier, almost unbreathable, and it's affecting everyone around us.  

Or consider the story of Nylah Shah, a 28-year-old with asthma who shares her struggle saying, "As an asthma patient since birth, the environment and atmosphere are crucial for my health. Especially in the last two months, I've had a terrible cold. But it's not the usual coughing that's been bothering me. What's most concerning is the frequency of the asthma attacks, which happen at random hours throughout the day." 

"During the day, when I'm on the road commuting, the breathing problems become terrible. Later, at night, it's exceedingly bad. I'm glued to my inhaler at this point. Regular cough medications seldom take effect," she explains. 

This sentiment is echoed across Dhaka, where residents feel trapped in a cycle of poor air, poor health, and poor solutions.

Are masks doing the needful?

According to the 2023 World Air Quality Report by IQAir, French Polynesia, with an average US AQI of 13, boasts the cleanest air globally, followed by Mauritius (AQI 14), Iceland (AQI 17), and Grenada (AQI 17). 

These nations have successfully maintained air quality that meets the World Health Organization's (WHO) clean air standards, a benchmark achieved by only 10 countries or territories worldwide in 2023. 

For Bangladesh, grappling with hazardous air quality, there are valuable lessons to learn. Emulating these countries' strategies—such as stringent pollution controls, sustainable urban planning, and investment in renewable energy—could significantly improve air quality.

Experts argue that masks are a stopgap solution; systemic change is the need of the hour. Here's how.

Clean Energy Transition: Phasing out coal-dependent brick kilns and promoting eco-friendly alternatives can significantly reduce emissions.

Strict Vehicle Emission Standards: The introduction and enforcement of Euro VI vehicle standards could curb vehicular pollution.

Green Infrastructure: Increasing urban greenery and creating parks can help absorb pollutants and improve air quality.

Public Awareness: Prioritising policy enforcement and raising public awareness about air pollution are crucial first steps toward cleaner air for all.

Air crisis a silent killer

Every breath matters, and until Dhaka's air becomes safe to breathe again, its residents will remain prisoners of their environment.

The air crisis in Dhaka is a silent killer, choking not just lungs but dreams, hopes, and the promise of a healthier future. 

Every breath taken in this city is a reminder of what's at stake—a future where children can play outside without fear, where mornings begin with fresh air, not smog, and where health is not compromised by the simple act of breathing.

This crisis is not beyond solving, but it requires courage and commitment from every corner of society. The government must act decisively, industries must adopt cleaner practices, and citizens must demand better policies and take individual steps to reduce pollution. Change begins with awareness but thrives on action.

For now, the masks stay on, and the air purifiers hum in countless homes. But let us dare to dream of a day when these will no longer be necessary. 

Dhaka deserves to breathe freely again, and so do its people—a city where every breath is a gift, not a gamble.