Dhaka, Jan. 5 -- Dhaka, the overcrowded capital of Bangladesh, ranked eighth on the list of cities with the worst air quality, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 159 at 8:57 am on Monday (January 05, 2026).

The capital's air was classified as "unhealthy," according to the AQI.

India's Kolkata and Delhi, China's Shanghai, and Afghanistan's Kabul occupied the first, second, third and fourth positions on the list, with AQI scores of 189, 184, 178 and 177 respectively.

An AQI score between 50 and 100 is considered "moderate," usually prompting sensitive individuals to limit prolonged outdoor exertion. A score between 101 and 150 is considered "unhealthy for sensitive groups," 151 to 200 is "unhealthy," 201 to 300 is "very unheal...