DHAKA, February 21, (V7N) — Residents of the capital faced severe health risks on Saturday as Dhaka ranked as the second most polluted city globally, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 223 at 10:25 am. This "very unhealthy" rating places Dhaka just behind Kabul, Afghanistan (AQI 343), and slightly ahead of Lahore, Pakistan (221), and Kolkata, India (215).

The air quality in Dhaka typically deteriorates during the dry winter months due to a combination of construction dust, brick kiln emissions, and vehicle exhaust. The AQI in Bangladesh is monitored based on five key pollutants, including hazardous fine particulate matter (PM2.5​), which the World Health Organization (WHO) identifies as a primary cause of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases worldwide. Health experts have advised residents, particularly children and the elderly, to limit outdoor activities and wear masks while commuting.

On the meteorological front, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has forecasted mainly dry weather with temporary partly cloudy skies across the country for the next 24 hours. While the winter chill is beginning to recede, a low-pressure area has formed over the Equatorial Indian Ocean and the adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal. This system is expected to move west-northwestwards and could intensify in the coming days.

According to the latest BMD bulletin, both night and day temperatures may rise slightly. The highest temperature on Friday was recorded at 34.5°C in Rangamati and Bandarban, while the lowest temperature today was 14.0°C in Dimla. In Dhaka, the sun is set to go down at 5:57 pm today, with sunrise expected tomorrow at 6:27 am.

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