DHAKA, March 4, (V7N) – Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) today forecast dry weather with a partly cloudy sky across the country in the next 24 hours from 9:00 am Wednesday. Day and night temperatures are expected to remain nearly unchanged.  

The highest temperature on Tuesday was 34.5 degrees Celsius in Mongla under Khulna division, while the lowest was 14.2 degrees Celsius in Rajarhat, Rangpur division. In Dhaka, the sun will set at 6:03 pm today and rise at 6:18 am tomorrow.  

Meanwhile, Dhaka ranked first among the world’s most polluted cities Wednesday morning, recording a hazardous Air Quality Index (AQI) of 315 at 8:53 am. Lahore (237), Kolkata (197) and Beijing (183) followed, while Batam in Indonesia registered the cleanest air with an AQI of 0.  

According to the AQI scale, readings above 301 are considered hazardous, posing severe health risks. The AQI in Bangladesh is measured based on five pollutants: PM10, PM2.5, NO2, CO, SO2 and ozone.  

Air quality in Dhaka typically worsens in winter and improves during the monsoon. The World Health Organization estimates air pollution causes about seven million deaths globally each year, mainly from stroke, heart disease, COPD, lung cancer and respiratory infections.  

END/CLM/RH